THUNDER BAY – A southern Ontario man facing charges of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and holding two people in their home against their will has been granted release from custody pending his trial.
But a justice of the peace warned Elijah Clarke, 18, if he breaks any of the conditions of his release plan he could find himself in custody again for a lengthy period of time.
Clarke and his co-accused, Kiaeem Gordon, 19, were arrested in January after police responded to a residential address in the 200-block of Amelia Street on Jan. 23, according to a past Thunder Bay Police Service media release.
According to police, an investigation revealed two individuals had been dealing drugs out of an apartment without consent and were preventing the tenants from leaving the apartment.
When police entered the apartment, they detained two male suspects without further incident.
Officers seized quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking in the apartment.
Clarke was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and two counts of forcible confinement.
He appeared in court on Friday for a one-day bail hearing in front of Justice of the Peace Jennifer Neill.
As part of his bail conditions, Clarke is to leave Thunder Bay upon 24 hours of his release be on house arrest at his mother’s home in Durham Region. When his mother is at work, he is to be under the supervision of his grandparents at their home in Brampton. All three family relatives have agreed to act as sureties and have promised to pay $1,500 each if Clarke breaks any of the rules imposed on him.
He will not be allowed to leave his residence unless it’s for a medical emergency unless he is accompanied by his mother or grandparents.
“If you break these rules, the chances of you being released before trial…is highly unlikely,” Neill said, adding if it wasn’t for the strong plan proposed by his lawyer, Justin McConnell, she most likely wouldn’t be releasing him.
Neill also spoke of the troubling similarities his case has when it comes to southern Ontario residents coming to Thunder Bay to transport or deal drugs.
“This has the appearance of a far too common activity that is happening in our community here in the north,” she said.
Clarke has no previous criminal record.
His next court date has been scheduled for later this month.
