Coke case closed, problem remains

Police have wrapped up a five-month, multi-agency drug trafficking investigation that resulted in 20 arrests, one arrest warrant and 88 charges.

Arrests began back in late December to early January. Sgt. James Morton of the Yorkton General Investigations Section (GIS) said the first arrests were strategic.

"We took them out early because they were a danger to the public," he said.

Those included Francis Bellegarde, who is currently serving a 30-month sentence for assault after pleading guilty to an attack New Year's Eve at the Kahkewistahaw Gas & Convenience Store.

Morton said Bellegarde was allegedly ripping off other dealers and re-selling their coke.

At his sentencing hearing, the defence said the assault had been motivated by the victim selling drugs to Bellegarde's young niece.

Bellegarde has since been charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine and two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime. He will make his first appearance on the new charges in Yorkton court on April 29.

Also scheduled to appear on April 29 are 12 other suspects, currently released on conditions, with charges including trafficking cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana, production of marijuana and marijuana oil, possession of the proceeds of crime and uttering threats.

Next up on the court's docket is Thomas Stevenson today. Stevenson faces two counts of trafficking, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime and three breach charges. He was remanded in custody last week at the Regina Correctional Centre.

Davi Estrada of Surrey B.C., the alleged ringleader of the Yorkton operation, was first arrested January 15. The Crown has since laid further charges and Estrada is scheduled to appear April 15 on six counts of trafficking, five counts of possession of the proceeds of crime and one count of wearing a disguise while committing an offence.

Only one suspect remains at large. The RCMP are still looking for Adam McKay of the Valley Rivers First Nation in Manitoba who is charged with two counts each of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.

Morton said police are confident this ties up all of those involved in this particular investigation, but by no means signals an end to the cocaine problem in Yorkton.

"We're not done by any stretch of the imagination," he said. "There's still lots of people trafficking. The rest of them better run and hide because we're still coming for them."

Morton explained the dynamics of street level dealing is kind of like a pyramid scheme. The high level traffickers recruit users to act as middlemen in exchange for drugs. It worries him that local kids who get caught up in these schemes have no idea what kind of future awaits them especially now that the federal government has added mandatory minimum sentences to the Criminal Code.

"It scares me to see this number of people involved," he said, adding that really putting a dent in the problem is going to take an effort by the entire community.

"As long as there's a demand, there will be someone to fill it," he said. "That's where the parents come in. Parents need to take a long hard look at their kids and ask the tough questions. We need everybody's help."

He said he doesn't want to see Yorkton devolve into the chaos he saw in Lloydminster where there were drive-by shootings and broad daylight stabbings in public places.

"It's an ugly situation and if we don't keep control of it, it will definitely get out of hand," he said. "Hopefully we'll be able to stay on top of it."