By Sheldon Spackman

February 2024 Incident

Charges withdrawn for pair charged in Ponoka drugs and firearm seizure

Jul 29, 2024 | 11:27 AM

Charges have been withdrawn against two people arrested following the seizure of a variety of drugs and a stolen firearm earlier this year.

Lauren Elliot Curtis, 45, and Crystal Blanchard, 39, both of Ponoka, had their charges withdrawn in Ponoka Court of Justice on July 12, 2024.

According to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), the charges were withdrawn because of no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

It was on Feb. 22, 2024, when 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.

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At the time of his arrest, RCMP note Lauren 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.

A second suspect was also arrested. Crystal Blanchard 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

Related: Ponoka RCMP and ALERT arrest repeat offender in Ponoka

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