Bail granted with conditions for trio charged in drug bust

Three of the men arrested last week in a Medicine Hat drug bust that included the seizure of a loaded firearm were granted bail Tuesday.

The arrests follow a March 16 search by Medicine Hat police’s organized crime team of a residence and vehicle on the 1100 block of Dominion Street where a loaded shotgun, ammunition, body armor, approximately $4,000 in methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and drug money was seized.

On Tuesday, 47-year-old David Aaron Greenwood was granted release on $4,000 cash bail under strict curfew and reporting conditions. Greenwood was charged with possessing of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possessing marijuana, possessing proceeds of crime, two counts of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public, possessing a firearm in a vehicle and possessing a firearm obtained by an offence.

Similar release conditions were also laid down for 59year-old John Stewart Mueller, but for $1,000 cash bail. Mueller was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possessing heroin for the purpose of trafficking, possessing fentanyl, possessing the of proceeds of crime, and unauthorized possession of identification.

Also granted release on $1,000 cash bail was Karsten Bridgman, 26. Bridgman was charged with possessing marijuana, cannabis resin, methamphetamine and hydromorphone, alongside possessing a weapon dangerous to the public and to breaches of recognizance.

All three will next appear in court on April 13.

Two others charged — Jesse Dean Imeson and Justin Peter Tye — have bail hearings scheduled for today.

Dangerous driving

A seven-and-a-half month jail sentence was handed down to a man who pled guilty to dangerous and disqualified driving.

Tim Guerette-Nymark appeared by CCTV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre on Tuesday for sentencing, following a May 1, 2016 incident where he was driving a GMC Envoy and collided with a truck parked on the side of the road, causing damage to the truck and another vehicle. Following the collision, Guerette-Nymark exited the vehicle and left the scene on foot.

Also entered were guilty pleas to other incidents of being in possession of a stolen bike, attempting to use a forged doctor’s note at a pharmacy, and possession of meth.

Due to pretrial custody, Guerette-Nymark has 63 days left of his 225-day sentence. He was also given a four year driving prohibition.

Stolen truck and mischief

A young man was given a 90-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property over $5,000, theft under $5,000 and mischief.

Shaun Dennis Shaw, 20, was arrested Feb. 24 after police received a call about a stolen truck. The truck’s owner had located the truck and was following it.

There were three occupants of the vehicle, and when police located the truck it was stuck in a field, and the occupants were on foot. It was revealed that the occupants had stolen gas from a farmer’s field, and there was mischief to the pump mechanism.

Shaw entered guilty pleas to the charges. Due to days already spent in custody, he has 51 days left to serve.

Stolen property

Pretrial custody means a Medicine Hat man has 16 days left to serve on an 196day sentence for a range of charges.

David Messervey entered guilty pleas Tuesday to two counts of trafficking stolen property — in one case posting onto an online classified site to sell a stolen generator, and in another case selling an iPad Air that was stolen in a break and enter of a detached garage, where a rifle and set of speakers were also stolen.

Messervey also entered guilty pleas to two counts of failing to appear in court, breaking a court-imposed curfew, failing to report to police, and twice breaking court order to not have contact with two specific people.