GREENWATER –RCMP arrested a man who was wanted by both Tisdale RCMP on weapons and drug charges, and the court for failing to appear on other weapons and drug charges stemming from a drug and weapons seizure in Bjorkdale and Saskatoon. He now faces more weapons and drug charges out of Archerwill.
On March 30, the RCMP gang unit, along with the Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team and Greenwater RCMP raided a home in Archerwill where they arrested 54-year-old Rudi Betthel, and 38-year-old Holly Schweitzer.
At the home, police seized an illegally modified firearm, machete, Tazer, knife, other weapons and ammunition, methamphetamine, LSD, OxyContin and other pills, and a sum of cash. The RCMP say that a search warrant was obtained after a police investigation determined there was evidence of drug trafficking at the Archerwill home. Archerwill is about 70 kilometres southeast of Melfort.
Betthel was charged with possession of methamphetamine, four counts of failing to comply with a release order, and possession of proceeds of crime.
Schweitzer, of Archerwill, was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unlicensed possession of a loaded prohibited weapon with readily accessible ammunition, three counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, and failing to comply with an undertaking.
Schweitzer has been remanded into custody until her next appearance in Rose Valley court on April 6.
Betthel appears in Saskatoon provincial court on April 6.
RCMP say that the investigation is ongoing.
“Saskatchewan RCMP is committed to keeping illegal drugs and weapons out of our communities,” said Insp. Glenn Church, officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s new Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team. “This investigation is an example of excellent collaboration between the local RCMP detachment and our specialized Saskatchewan RCMP teams. It demonstrates to those thinking they can introduce these dangerous goods into our communities that we won’t tolerate it.”
Betthel’s other charges
In March, Tisdale RCMP issued an arrest warrant for 54-year-old Rudi Betthel of Bjorkdale after Tisdale RCMP raided his home and seized a loaded prohibited firearm, drugs, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
In that incident, Betthel was charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, four counts of failing to comply with release conditions, unsafe storage of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a prohibited weapon knowing possession was unauthorized, unlicensed possession of a restricted firearm/prohibited weapon with ammunition, and two counts of possession of a weapon contrary to an order, and failing to surrender authorization.
Saskatoon court issues bench warrant
A bench warrant was also issued by a judge in Saskatoon Provincial Court in March after Betthel failed to appear in court on charges stemming from April 2021. The charges include 10 drug trafficking and five weapons related offences. Those charges were laid after police raided homes in Saskatoon and Bjorkdale following a traffic stop in April 2021. The traffic stop was a result of an investigation which began in March 2021 when the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, the RCMP Prince Albert Gang Task Force, and the Melfort and Tisdale RCMP Detachments joined forces after they learned about the presence of large quantities of drugs in the area. The Saskatoon Police Service Tactical Support Unit conducted the traffic stop at the investigative team's direction just outside of Saskatoon on Highway 7 near Township Road 340. Betthel was driving and allegedly had a significant amount of methamphetamine, Fentanyl, cocaine and related drug paraphernalia in his possession.
After the traffic stop, police got a search warrant for Betthel’s Bjorkdale home where they seized firearms, methamphetamine, ketamine, hydromorphone and additional drug paraphernalia. Police then executed a search warrant at a home in Saskatoon and seized drugs, a firearm and weapons. The S-ICRT seized approximately 4,068 individual does of methamphetamine, 992 doses of cocaine and about 3,062 doses of Fentanyl. Tricia Karpluk, 39, of Saskatoon, was charged with trafficking drugs, possession of proceeds obtained by crime, and three weapons-related offences.
The charges against Betthel, Schweitzer, and Karpluk haven't been proven in court.
ljoy@glaciermedia.ca
