Man facing several charges unable to appear

A Lethbridge man who faces several criminal charges following a drug bust in the city earlier this week was unable to attend his scheduled hearing in provincial court Thursday.

Armande John Good Rider was set to appear by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, where he has been remanded since his arrest Monday at a hotel in the 200 block of 41 Street South.

The hearing proceeded as planned, but Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly appeared for the accused, who has been placed in quarantine until he has been tested for COVID-19 and cleared.

Connolly, who said she had not yet been officially retained by Legal Aid, simply requested the matter be adjourned for a week.

Good Rider, 22, is charged with two counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count each of drug possession and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, and four counts of failing to comply with release conditions.

Lethbridge Police reported that earlier this month members of the priority crimes unit began an investigation into reported drug trafficking activity. On Monday, officers searched a hotel room, where they arrested a man and seized about 150 grams of methamphetamine, 17 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of crack cocaine, a small amount of psilocybin, prescription narcotics, assorted drug paraphernalia, including scales and packaging, and more than $35,400 cash. The total street value of the drugs is more than $13,500.

A second individual, 24-yearold Thi Hai Binh Nguyen of Lethbridge, was arrested the following day and is charged with possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000. Nguyen is scheduled to appear in court July 28.

Police also searched a northside home Wednesday.

At about 6 a.m. the crime suppression team and the tactical team searched the home in the 1700 block of St. Edward Boulevard North.

Police secured the residence and said in a release there is no risk to neighbours or the public.

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