A series of investigations last week led local RCMP to seize drugs and cash while also laying several charges.
On Feb. 11, officers with the detachment's crime reduction unit noticed a vehicle in a local parking lot and witnessed a drug transaction.
After a brief investigation, officers arrested Chad James Winters, 22, and charged him with one count of trafficking in cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of marijuana.
He was also charged with possession of the proceeds of crime. Officers seized a small amount of cocaine, marijuana and $350 cash.
The night prior, officers from the same unit were on their way to execute an arrest warrant when they noticed a vehicle in the Grosvenor Pool parking lot, shortly after 11 p.m.
An 18-year-old man was arrested in that case. Officers seized marijuana, cocaine and $415 in cash.
He was charged with possession of marijuana for the purposes of trafficking, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime.
Cpl. Laurel Kading said the officers in the crime reduction unit have been working for about two years to target specific activities.
In addition to helping on drug work, the officers spend time targeting specific traffic problems or areas and performing curfew checks on those out on bail or other release conditions.
Kading said the unit is guided to where they can have the biggest impact on community safety.
"We look at our analysis of crimes, we look at where are our crimes happening, who are our habitual offenders and then we start targeting them."
Kading said in the case of the Grosvenor Pool arrest, it was a matter of the unit noticing the vehicle and finding it strange that it would be in the parking lot so long after the facility closed.
"This is where a vehicle is parked in an area that would be unusual and suspicious for them."
Kading said the members of the unit have had previous successes and the detachment is just now trying to showcase their efforts.
"It is not the first time they have come across stuff, but we are recognizing that we have been a little bit remiss in getting out what they are doing."
Other arrest
Another arrest earlier this month on Feb. 5 was not connected to the unit, but Kading said the officers involved used many of the same techniques
An officer noticed a vehicle leaving the Protestant Outreach School around 1 a.m. on Feb. 5 and stopped the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle were five occupants. The officer detected the strong odour of marijuana. A 17-year-old girl was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking in marijuana and breach of probation. Two 17-year-old boys in the vehicle were charged in connection with a robbery from the previous day.
A 21-year-old man was walking behind the St. Albert Centre Mall when he encountered the two boys, who he knew, and was assaulted. The boys are then alleged to have stolen his cellphone.
They appeared in court earlier this week and were released into parental custody on $500 cash bail. As part of their conditions, they will have to respect a nightly curfew.
