By rdnewsNOW staff

Drugs/Stolen Firearm Seized

Ponoka RCMP and ALERT arrest repeat offender in Ponoka

Feb 26, 2024 | 10:27 AM

Following a joint investigation by Ponoka RCMP and ALERT, police say a repeat drug dealer has been arrested, along with the seizure of a variety of drugs and a stolen firearm.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Ponoka RCMP, Blackfalds RCMP, and ALERT Red Deer’s organized crime team executed a search warrant at a residence in Ponoka. As result of the search, police seized:

• 63 grams of methamphetamine
• 15 tablets of oxycodone
• 5 grams of suspected fentanyl
• a stolen firearm.
• Mounties say a male Ponoka resident, Lauren Curtis, 44, has been charged with:
• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of drugs
• Unsafe storage of a firearm
• Possession of an unauthorized firearm
• Possession of a weapon obtained by crime
• Failure to comply with a probation order.

At the time of his arrest, RCMP note Curtis had previous drugs, firearms, and property-related offences still before the courts. According to police, he was bound by a 24-hour curfew, which he was found in violation of.

Mounties say Curtis was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court appearance set for March 1, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Ponoka.

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A second suspect was also arrested. Ponoka resident Crystal Blanchard, 38, was charged with:

• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of drugs
• Unsafe storage of a firearm
• Possession of an unauthorized firearm
• Possession of a weapon obtained by crime.

RCMP say Blanchard was taken before a justice of the peace and released from custody with her next court date set for March 1, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Ponoka.

If you have any information about this incident, please call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4471 . If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1‐800‐222‐8477 (TIPS), by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions). To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

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