Drug charges dropped for city man

A Lethbridge man arrested with several others more than a year ago following a couple of drug busts in the city no longer faces criminal charges.

Two counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking against Walter Courtoreille were withdrawn Thursday during a hearing in Lethbridge provincial court.

Courtoreille was charged in November 2016 after police raided two homes in Lethbridge on separate days. The police tactical team raided a home on Meadowlark Boulevard North Nov. 17, where officers reportedly found 243 grams of crack cocaine, four percocet pills, $6,323 in cash and drug paraphernalia. Four men surrendered without resistance after tactical police burst into the home across the street from Park Meadows Elementary School.

A week later, ALERT Lethbridge's organized crime and gang team, with the help of the Lethbridge Police Service and the RCMP, raided a home in the 1300 block of 23 Street North. Police arrested several individuals, including two men who had been arrested during the bust the previous week.

Drugs seized during the second bust had an estimate street value of more than $50,000. They included 526 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of a buffing agent and 15 oxycodone pills. Also found were a replica firearm, and $3,340 in cash from proceeds of crime.

Courtoreille was arrested during the second raid, and was visibly upset at his initial court appearance Nov. 24, 2016. He demanded to know why he had been arrested and where the drugs were that police allegedly found when they “burst” into his home.

“Where were they found? They weren’t on me,” he insisted.

Although he no longer faces charges in relation to the drug bust, several others are set for trial in the coming days and weeks.

Mohamed Yusuf Isse and Mohammud Ayah are set for a three-day trial beginning Wednesday. They are also set for trial the week of April 16, along with Liban Mohamed Hassan and Hanad Warsame.

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