A former member of the Canadian Forces who was recently released is now facing charges of drug trafficking and administering a noxious substance.
Garth James Schuck was charged earlier last month with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of possession for the purposes of trafficking.
Military police officers also charged Schuck with several counts of administering a noxious thing.
Schuck did not appear personally on Monday, but through a lawyer set the charges over until June 7.
The charges stem from an incident at the Edmonton Garrison’s Tim Hortons in early April where two women suddenly became ill after taking coffee from a fellow member of the Canadian Forces.
The man had offered to buy the women coffee and they both became very ill shortly after ingesting it.
When officers arrested the man they found what they believe are eight ecstasy tablets. Subsequent searches of his vehicle and home led to more drugs being found.
Capt. Derrick Forsythe, public affairs officer for the Garrison, said Schuck was in the process of being discharged from the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron when the incident happened. He left the forces on April 22.
“He was already in the process of being released by us on medical release and it just happened that these events coincided.”
He said the military police did lay the charges, but Schuck’s charges will work their way through the civilian courts.
Schuck was released on bail with conditions that include a curfew, a prohibition from having a cellphone and a requirement that he have no contact with members of the Canadian Forces.
Forsythe said the women who ingested the unknown substance don’t appear to have suffered any long-lasting health impacts.
