NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On Dec. 9, 2019 at approximately 3:30 a.m. a Niagara Regional Police Service, 2 District Niagara Falls uniform officer was on general patrol in the area of Garner Road and near Thorold Stone Road in Niagara Falls. The officer observed a white Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound on Garner Road.
The officer recognized the driver and conducted a traffic stop for suspicion of driving with a suspended drivers licence. The identity of the driver was determined and he was arrested for driving a motor vehicle while suspended. A search of the vehicle following the driver's arrest located a quantity of suspected illegal narcotics. A passenger in the vehicle was subsequently also arrested.
Officers seized 131.7 grams of suspected cocaine (estimated street value of $14,000), 34.6 grams of cannabis, and 3 grams of purple coloured suspected fentanyl (estimated street value of $100).
$2,490 and various drug paraphernalia were also seized.
The driver, Robert Kevin Rouse (42 years old) of St. Catharines is charged with the alleged offences of:
• Driving while under suspension / 53(1) HTA
• Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis in open baggage / 12(1) CCA
• Possess Schedule I substance for trafficking (cocaine) / 5(2) CDSA
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000 / 355(b) CC
• Possess Schedule I substance for trafficking (fentanyl) / 5(2) CDSA
The passenger, Ernesto Leonardo Marzo (22 years old) of Toronto and Niagara is charged with the alleged offences of:
• Possess Schedule I substance for trafficking (cocaine) / 5(2)
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000 / 355(b) CCC
• Possess Schedule I substance for trafficking (fentanyl) / 5(2) CDSA
The men were both held in custody and will appear at a bail hearing at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines today.
Anyone with information asked to call 905-688-4111, ext. 2200.
Information on crimes can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara. To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via:
Telephone - 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
Online - www.niagaratips.ca
Crime Stoppers guarantees that you will remain anonymous through any of the methods offered to provide tips. You may also be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 if the information leads to an arrest.
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