Added drug charges shows degree of city’s meth issue
Two Hatters are facing even more drug trafficking charges after a recent arrest over methamphetamine.
Brent Anthony Heath and Angie Rose Blade had brief appearances at the Medicine Hat Courthouse Thursday, for new and old charges.
The most recent arrest occurred Feb. 9 following investigations by police using undercover officers to make several drug purchases. A total of 29.13 grams of meth was seized by police, with an estimated street value of $2,915. Also seized was one hydromorphine pill with the value of $20.
“It’s absolutely taken over the city,” said Insp. Brent Secondiak with the Medicine Hat Police Service on meth, and its prevalence in drug arrests in the city. Nearly 1,500 grams were seized in the city last year by the drug unit — an increase of 381 per cent since 2015.
Heath now faces five new counts of trafficking, and eight breaches of his release conditions. Blade faces two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and two breaches of her release condition.
These charges are on top of numerous others the pair face.
Heath was arrested in August and charged with drug trafficking and possession.
More charges followed after an investigation in September by police into drug activity occurring at a residence on Fifth Street SE.
From this, Heath was charged with multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing oxycodone, proceeds of crime, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and breaches for violating bail conditions.
Blade was also arrested during this investigation, and charged with multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of oxycodone, proceeds of crime, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
Both Heath and Blade had matters adjourned to March 2. Heath is in custody, while Blade is on release. The Crown stated it would seek revocation of bail for all previous charges.
Jailhouse assault
A man serving time for second-degree murder made a brief court appearance for charges following a jailhouse assault.
Franz Emir Cabrera appeared by CCTV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre, with matters adjourned to March 23 so his counsel can review disclosure over the assault causing bodily harm charge, following an assault of another inmate. Cabrera was charged alongside Isaiah Cole Wawia.
Cabrera is serving life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years after being sentenced Jan. 16 for his part in the swarming death of a Calgary teen in 2013.