Pubdate: Fri, 31 Mar 2006
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Ryan Cormier
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DEALER SOLD COCAINE WITH 5-YEAR-OLD NAPPING IN BACK
SEAT

To Protect Child, Police Lured Man Away From Car To Arrest
Him

EDMONTON - A five-year-old boy found napping in the back of a cocaine
dealer's car after an undercover drug bust has been placed in the care
of social services.

Police initially became aware of the boy when an undercover officer
spotted him while making a drug transaction. Officers were taken by
surprise and weren't sure they could remove the boy safely.

A week later, they made another undercover purchase from the dealer.
Again, the boy accompanied him in the car.

"The second occasion, because we had some indication there had been a
child the first time, we had an alternative plan to draw the accused
away from the vehicle so we could take him down without endangering
the child," said acting Insp. Brad Doucette.

Once the man was in police custody, officers searched his home near
137th Avenue and 48th Street on Tuesday night.

They found $2,700 worth of cocaine, a 9-mm handgun and a clip of
ammunition on the kitchen counter -- all within easy reach of the boy
who lived there. The boy has been in the care of social services ever
since.

"He's in a safe place now," said Det. Don Curle of the Child
Protection Centre. "It was a dangerous situation for this
five-year-old to be in."

The man's 24-year-old girlfriend was arrested at the home. Both face
drug and weapons charges, as well as a charge of causing a child to be
in need of intervention.

Police are not identifying either of the accused to protect the
identity of the child. Their relationship to the child was not specified.

Police also seized $6,675 in cash from the home.

The pair were cooking drugs in the kitchen of the home, police
said.

"The house reasonable clean. There was food, there was toys for the
child. Unfortunately, there was also drugs and guns," Doucette said.

The man is currently in custody while his girlfriend has been released
on bail. The pair will make their next court appearance on April 11.

Curle said the case is not an isolated one.

"There are children at risk every day in this city. How many come to
police attention? That's another matter."

On Saturday, police arrested two brothers as part of a larger drug
investigation. Two nephews of the men, both younger than 10, lived in
a home with easy access to cocaine, a Taser, a switchblade and a
stolen .38-calibre revolver.

The boys were taken from the home and are now living with their
grandmother.

Ahmed Toufic Elkadri, 33, and Ameen Toufic Elkadri, 27, have been
charged with multiple drug and weapon offences. 
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