Drug charges laid in two separate incidents

THUNDER BAY -- City police have laid various charges in two separate incidents Thursday against two men from the Greater Toronto Area.

According to a media release, police became aware that a male previously charged from a drug investigation in October had returned to the city in contravention of his conditions of release.

Members of the Community Response Team observed the male driving and attempted to stop him.

The male failed to stop for police, eventually abandoning the vehicle and fled on foot.

Police arrest and charged Matthew Pickering, 21, of Toronto with breach of recognizance, possession of a schedule 1 substance, failing to stop for police and resisting arrest.

The accused is a known member of the Blake Street Mafia street gang.

In a separate incident, police executed a search warrant at a residence on the 200 block of Dundas Street.

A lone male was arrested and a small amount of drugs and paraphernalia conducive to drug trafficking was seized. In addition, $2,600 was also seized.

Police charged Shayne Hylton, 19, of Etobicoke with possession of a schedule 1 substance and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Both accused appeared in court Friday and were remanded into custody with a future date.