Alberta Provincial Court

By Sheldon Spackman

October 2025 Arrests

Preliminary hearing scheduled for two Red Deer men accused in alleged drug manufacturing operation

Jan 30, 2026 | 2:15 PM

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for two men accused of being involved in an alleged drug manufacturing operation in north Red Deer. 

John Albert Knox, 50, and Wade William Sperling, 33, are scheduled to find out in Red Deer Court of Justice on Jan. 18, 2027, if their case has enough evidence to go to trial. 

It was on Oct. 20, 2025, when Mounties arrested John Knox of Red Deer on charges of possession of items for the manufacturing of fentanyl, and possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. 

Following a Judicial Interim Release Hearing, he was remanded into custody to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer. 

A co-accused, who was previously arrested for the same matter on Oct. 8, 2025, was identified as Wade Sperling of Red Deer. He too, was taken into custody. 

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In late July 2025, the Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section received details about suspicious activities at a commercial business, which led to a police search of the property on July 25. 

The search was done with assistance from the Alberta RCMP Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response Team (CLEAR) and Red Deer Emergency Services. 

Police shared that the search led to the discovery and seizure of significant quantities of precursor chemicals, substances, laboratory equipment, and other materials used in the manufacturing of illicit fentanyl. RCMP also seized 1,735 grams of finished fentanyl product. 

On Oct. 8, 2025, following nearly three months of investigation, RCMP searched a home in Red Deer’s Normandeau area, and with assistance from several units, including General Duty, Downtown Patrol, the Crime Reduction Team, and Police Dog Services, seized electronic devices, laptops, forged documents, and equipment used for the creation of forged documents. 

Red Deer RCMP thank the public for reporting suspicious activity, which assisted them in the successful seizures and arrests.  

If you have any information regarding crime within Red Deer, please contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-406-2200. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play. 

Related: Red Deer RCMP arrest second suspect involved in alleged drug manufacturing operation

Related: Alleged fentanyl lab in north Red Deer dismantled by RCMP