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Major raid

A major bust has local police proud but concerned about the guns and drugs seized. The Thunder Bay Police Service's guns and gangs unit took down several alleged members of 856, a gang with roots in B.C.
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Police display guns, weapons and drugs seized recently. (Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com)

A major bust has local police proud but concerned about the guns and drugs seized.

The Thunder Bay Police Service's guns and gangs unit took down several alleged members of 856, a gang with roots in B.C. that has been popping up in cities across Canada. Included in the bust were five guns, brass knuckles, Kevlar vests and stun guns.

"It's pretty scary to know those kinds of things are going on in our city and to have people trying to infiltrate the drug trade from out of town," chief J.P. Levesque said.

Levesque said 856 is ruthless and credits intelligence policing, along with continuing cooperation with the RCMP in Calgary for the bust.

"This was an exceptional piece of police work from the officers involved," he said.

Police are also concerned with 258 grams of crack cocaine that were seized. While not a massive amount it's not common in the area.

"That's disconcerting for sure. That concerns us greatly that we see an influx of a new drug," he said.

While police don't know how long the gang has been in Thunder Bay, Levesque said it probably hasn't been too long as one of the accused is wanted for attempted murder from an incident in Calgary this spring.

"We shut it down relatively early before they had a chance to grow," he said.

As for the gang itself, Levesque said the investigation continues.

"I'm not sure if we have them all at this point," he said.

Tuesday's announcement came after police learned in spring that a group of men were selling crack cocaine in the area of Bethune and Cumming Streets. On Sept. 16 a traffic stop on May Street by uniformed officers led to the arrest of two men believed to be involved with that group of men. Cocaine, marijuana and cash was seized during that traffic stop.

Brian Essiambre, 25, and Robert Ternowski, 54, both of Calgary, have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.

The traffic stop led police to search two home, one on Rosslyn Road and another on Bethune Street, on Sept. 17.

During the search of the Rosslyn Road home, police seized the following:

  • $31,815.00 cash
  • 258 grams of crack cocaine. Street value $77,400.00
  • 923 Ecstasy tablets. Street value $9230.00
  • .38 calibre semi-automatic handgun
  • Sawed off 12 gauge shotgun
  • Two shotguns
  • Three rifles
  • Brass knuckles
  • Switch blade
  • Two bullet proof vests

Taylor LeClerc, 21, of Langley B.C., and Robert Ternowski, 54, and 24 year old Jamie Mortimer, 24, of the Calgary area have been charge with the following:

GUNS

  • Possession of a prohibited weapon (.38 caliber handgun)
  • Possession of ammunition (.38 caliber ammo)
  • Knowledge of prohibited firearm  (.38 caliber)
  • Possession of prohibited weapon (Stun Guns x2)
  • Possession of prohibited weapon (switch-blade)
  • Possession of a firearm (SKS)
  • Possession of a firearm (30-06)
  • Possession of a Firearm (Berretta .20 gauge Shotgun)
  • Possession of a Firearm (.38 Caliber Handgun)
  • Possession of prohibited weapon (sawed off Remington 870 .12 gauge)
  • Possession of a weapon (Brass Knuckles)
  • Tampering with serial number 108 (.38 caliber handgun)

DRUGS

  • Possession for the purpose of trafficking-cocaine
  • Possession for the purpose of trafficking-MDMA
  • Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000.00 CC 354(1)(a)

Further investigation has led to Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine charges being laid on Mortimer, LeClerc, Ternowski and Essiambre.

Investigators believe there is a link between the individuals involved in these recent arrests with three males arrested in June on drug and weapons related offences.

None of the charges against the accused have been proven in court.




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