Community applauds drug, weapons sweep

After downtown division officers shared news of seizing $15,000 of prescription pills and arresting a suspected drug dealer, community members broke into applause.

“We announced the results of this search warrant at a neighbourhood safety meeting earlier this week and community members cheered at the news,” said Edmonton police Acting Sgt. Chris Weir. “It’s great to get that kind of feedback.”

Officers first arrested a man outside a residence near 92 Street and 110A Avenue on Wednesday afternoon after he was observed taking part in a drug deal. They seized 63 Dilaudid pills worth $1,890 on the street.

A vehicle search yielded another 100 oxycodone pills valued at $3,000.

Investigators later executed a search warrant at the house.

Police seized 344 prescription pills from the house, including Dilaudid, lorazepam, oxycodone and Hydromorph Contin. Those pills have an estimated street value of more than $10,300.

Officers also seized a stolen laptop, body armour, a knife and a prohibited push-dagger — a knife with a T-shaped handle that rests against the palm of the user’s hand — along with numerous empty pill bottles and documents recording drug transactions.

Jules Bimazubute, 46, was charged with four counts of possession for the purposes of trafficking, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of an offensive weapon dangerous to the public, possession of body armour without a valid permit and unauthorized possession of a prohibited device.