NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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Since November 2019, members of the 1 District (St. Catharines) and 3 District (Welland) Street Crime Unit have been investigating drug trafficking in St. Catharines, Thorold and Welland.
On Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, with the assistance of the Emergency Task Unit (ETU) search warrants were executed at residences in the area of Port Robinson Road and Kottmeier Road in the City of Thorold, Kent Street and Regent Street in the City of Welland and Fruitland Road and Arvin Avenue in the City of Hamilton.
As a result, investigators have seized over $34,000 in crystal methamphetamine, $29,000 in fentanyl, over $20,000 in cocaine along with $2,500 in hydromorphone, $39,000 in currency.
Also seized were five firearms along with over 200 rounds of ammunition and brass knuckles.
Jeffery England, 39 years old, and 34-year-old Jessica Travers, both of the City of Thorold, are facing the following alleged charges:
- three counts of possession for purpose of trafficking a controlled substance
- one count of possession of proceeds obtained by crime
- one count possession of a loaded restricted firearm P
- one count possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition
- one count careless storage of a firearm
- one count unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
- one count possession of a restricted firearm knowingly unauthorized
Chris Arnoczki, 36 years old, and 29-year-old Joanne Short, both of the City of Welland are facing the following alleged charges:
- four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance
- possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000
- four counts careless storage of firearm
- five counts possession of a firearm or ammunition
- one possession of a loaded restricted firearm
- Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- four counts unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
Shawn Marsh, 28 years old of the City of Welland, is facing the following alleged charges:
- two counts of possession of a controlled substance
England, Travers, Arnoczki, Short and Marsh are all currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines.
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