Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2014
Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The Sault Star
Contact: http://www.saultstar.com/letters
Website: http://www.saultstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1071
Author: Brian Kelly
Page: A1

DRUG UNIT HAS EARLY SUCCESS

POLICING: It is a combination of three forces

Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is teaming up with two other police 
agencies to clamp down on the drug trade in the city and Algoma District.

A constable from both Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Anishinabek 
Police Service are seconded to Sault Ste. Marie Joint Forces Drug 
Unit. Commander is Sgt. Chris Chiappetta.

Two city police constables round out the force.

The drug unit officially began work April 1. One of its tasks, 
Project Cooper, began March 14 and focused on cocaine distribution in 
the city and area.

The unit seized 528 ounces of marijuana, 37 ounces of cocaine and 
five grams of crack cocaine on Tuesday when an arrest was made at a 
parking lot at Cambrian Mall. Estimated street value of the drugs is 
$326,000, police say.

The same day, search warrants were executed at 483 Bush St., 392 
Chambers Ave., and Parliament St.

William Lawrence Fleming, 28, of 571 Parliament St., was charged with 
conspiring to traffic, possession of a controlled substance for the 
purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, four 
counts possession of the proceeds of crime and five counts 
trafficking in a controlled substance.

A 2011 GMC pickup truck was also seized when Fleming was arrested.

Eight marijuana plants in the early stages of production were 
allegedly found at a residence on Bush Street.

Joshua Daniel Kennedy, 26, of 483 Bush St., was charged with 
possession of a controlled substance. His court date is June 30. The 
drug unit will do "all manner of drug enforcement," from targeting 
dealers to organized distribution, says Insp. Sean Sparling of city police.

The team, along with a crime suppression unit, will also provide 
enforcement for the municipal force's recently opened community 
mobilization office on Gore Street. It's headed by Const. Darren Rossetto.

"We provide him with the enforcement to meet his goals," said Sparling.

City police want to work with social agencies to deal with root 
causes of crime in the downtown area and move persons involved away 
from law enforcement and the justice system.

"We're going to provide some directed enforcement at the people in 
that area that choose to deal drugs," said Sparling.

Cocaine and prescription drugs, legally obtained but then sold for 
profit or cash to feed other addictions, are the narcotics used most 
often in the city, he adds.

"The idea is by tackling the problem we'll have reductions 
elsewhere," said Sparling.

Arrest a drug dealer, he says, and problems of needles and sex trade 
workers in a neighbourhood can end.
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