Police have dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in Walkerton.
On September 9, 2024, the South Bruce Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to investigate an assault involving a firearm. The accused and victim are known to one another and it is believed that it was an isolated incident.
On September 11, 2024, a search warrant was executed at an address in Walkerton and the accused was taken into custody without incident. During the execution of the warrant, a clandestine drug laboratory was discovered. Specialty units within the OPP, in collaboration with assisting agencies, safely dismantled the lab.
As a result of the investigation, police seized a .22 caliber handgun, a quantity of suspected MDMA, precursors for drug production, as well as several pieces of production equipment. The combined estimated street value of the seized controlled substances is approximately $25,000.
As a result of the investigation, a 51-year-old resident of Walkerton has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC) and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences:
- Assault with a weapon, 267(a) CC – (two counts)
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, 88 CC – (two counts)
- Point firearm, 87 CC
- Use firearm while committing offence, 85(1)(a) CC
- Intimidation – use or threatens use of violence, 423(1)(a) CC
- Mischief under $5,000, 430(4) CC
- Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, 5(2) CDSA
- Produce a schedule I substance, 7(1) CDSA
- Possession of anything for use in the production of a schedule I substance, 7.1(1) CDSA
The accused was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in the Walkerton Ontario Court of Justice on September 20, 2024.
Specialty units and assisting agencies included South Bruce OPP Major Crimes Unit, West Region Tactics and Rescue Unit, West Region Community Street Crime Team, Clandestine Laboratory Investigative Response Team, Urban Search and Rescue Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives Response Team, Walkerton Fire Department, Health Canada, Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office, and Bruce County Paramedic Services.
The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at cstip.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.
