A stash of drugs and firearms have been seized by the Prince George Royal Canadian Mounted Police following an investigation that began when a man set a stolen vehicle on fire.Four people were arrested, though only one has been charged.According to the RCMP, the inciting incident took place on November 29 near Victoria St. and McCullagh Ave. Officers with the Problem Oriented Policing team and Downtown Safety Unit were on patrol when they witnessed the arson. The suspect, 39-year-old John Robert Barton Craig, attempted to flee the scene in a waiting taxi, but was apprehended before being able to get away. A loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle, along with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and hydromorphone.Craig, and three other people who were in the taxi, were arrested, however only he was held in custody. He was charged with arson, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property over $5000, failure to comply with probation, and possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition. All the suspects were known to police, and charges against the other three are pending approval by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada..Hours later, law enforcement executed two Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Firearms search warrants at properties on the 2600-block of Quince St. According to Media Relations Officer Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, they discovered "multiple firearms, including several high-powered firearms, and ammunition. They also located silicone molds that appear to have been used to press illicit drugs into candy-like shapes."
A stash of drugs and firearms have been seized by the Prince George Royal Canadian Mounted Police following an investigation that began when a man set a stolen vehicle on fire.Four people were arrested, though only one has been charged.According to the RCMP, the inciting incident took place on November 29 near Victoria St. and McCullagh Ave. Officers with the Problem Oriented Policing team and Downtown Safety Unit were on patrol when they witnessed the arson. The suspect, 39-year-old John Robert Barton Craig, attempted to flee the scene in a waiting taxi, but was apprehended before being able to get away. A loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle, along with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and hydromorphone.Craig, and three other people who were in the taxi, were arrested, however only he was held in custody. He was charged with arson, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property over $5000, failure to comply with probation, and possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition. All the suspects were known to police, and charges against the other three are pending approval by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada..Hours later, law enforcement executed two Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Firearms search warrants at properties on the 2600-block of Quince St. According to Media Relations Officer Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, they discovered "multiple firearms, including several high-powered firearms, and ammunition. They also located silicone molds that appear to have been used to press illicit drugs into candy-like shapes."
