Men arrested under Operation Tarantula back in court
Two of the six men were granted bail; Crown hopes to join murder conspiracy charges of the other four
Of the four men charged with plotting earlier this year to murder another man, Brandon Glasco was the only one brought into the courtroom when the case was called in provincial court in St. John’s Thursday morning.
While the other men – Dustin Etheridge, John Squires and Shane Clarke — were on site in the cells at Atlantic Place, their lawyers requested they not be brought into the courtroom for the proceedings, which lasted all but five minutes.
Glasco is not yet represented by a lawyer, since he is hoping to hire private counsel.
Etheridge, 26, and Squires, 34, have been in custody since the middle of May, when they were arrested and charged with conspiring to murder alleged Hells Angels associate Bradley Summers. They were also charged with a number of offences related to a loaded handgun.
Glasco, 19, and Clarke, 24,
were arrested late last week and given the same conspiracy charge, as well as charges relating to cocaine trafficking. Glasco is also facing three weapons charges.
On Thursday, Crown prosecutor Lloyd Strickland indicated he would look to join the conspiracy charges, establishing one case with four co-accused. Strickland asked for a postponement of the matter until Oct. 4.
Etheridge, Squires, Glasco and Clarke were arrested, police say, as part of Operation Tarantula, which had begun in March with the goal of investigating the alleged criminal activities of Etheridge and his associates. The investigation crossed into New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.
Once Etheridge and Squires were taken into custody in May, police executed search warrants at a number of homes, hotels, business and vehicles in the St. John’s area. Seven kilograms of cocaine, $240,000 in cash, 20 firearms and ammunition, two vehicles and drug paraphernalia were seized.
Late last week, police made four more Tarantula arrests: Glasco and Clarke, along with 32-year-old Corey Stevens and 29-year-old Brad Squires. Stevens and Brad Squires, both charged with drugs offences, were granted bail and released on conditions, including that they not possess cellphones and have no contact with the other men. They will also be back in court Oct. 4.
Police say they expect to make more arrests as part of the investigation.