‘Crack shack’ bylaw enforced

May 04, 2008

Another Vernon home has been posted under the city’s Drug Remediation, or ‘crack shack,’ bylaw, after RCMP swooped in and executed a search warrant Thursday.

Twelve people were arrested inside the home, located in the 3500 block of 27th Avenue, and police seized a very small quantity of crystal meth, small quantities of magic mushrooms and marijuana from the home.

“It should be noted that this is the first crystal meth seizure resulting from a local search warrant or any undercover operation in Vernon over the past 18 months,” said Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock.

Two stolen mountain bikes were also located in the residence.

Two males were slated to appear in Vernon court Friday in relation to the drug charges. One of the males had an outstanding warrant on unrelated matters.

Police also arrested another individual on an outstanding warrant, and have recommended charges against another person for breaching bail conditions. They were slated to appear in court Friday, as well.

All other subjects were released without any charges.

The house is the first in 2008 to be posted under the crack shack bylaw, and the 12th since its inception. When a house is posted, nobody can live in the home, nor can it be sold or rented, until the owner brings the home up to standard codes.

Thursday’s warrant came about following covert activities conducted by RCMP, who are continuing their efforts to disrupt criminal activity in the vicinity of the Upper Room Mission. The home in question is a block away from the Mission.

“For the past week, our new mobile command post was set up in the area of the Upper Room Mission in an effort to disrupt criminal activities in that area,” said McVarnock.

“The post had an immediate and positive effect.”

So much so, the post was relocated to another location in Vernon. However, last Wednesday, Vernon RCMP conducted covert activities near the Mission and People Place building to assess activity without the post being present.

During the day, the area was visibly quiet, but officers did arrest one adult female, who was in breach of her bail conditions.

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‘Crack shack’ bylaw enforced

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