Ridge Meadows RCMP arrested a man at the Cliff Avenue homeless camp Tuesday for dealing drugs.
Police were granted a search warrant for one of the tents in the 22100 block of Cliff Avenue in Maple Ridge. The evening search resulted in a seizure of what police believe to be "synthetically produced drugs," individually packaged for sale.
“Acting on reports of illegal drug dealing, the Street Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday," said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.
RCMP arrested 47-year-old man and are recommending charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
The charges are consistent with the drugs and other items that are known to be used in drug trafficking, Dunlop said.
Police also seized pieces of personal identification, not belonging to the suspect, that are believed to have been stolen.
After ensuring the man’s identity, police released him on documents to appear in court at a later date. Police would have preferred to keep him in custody, Dunlop added, but he was released due to Crown Counsel protocol a fully prosecutable file be submitted before charges are approved.
"This, along with the law that police cannot hold anyone longer than 24 hours if charges are not laid, investigators had no alternative but to release the male from custody," Dunlop said. "The drugs have to be sent to the laboratory to prove they are a controlled substance to make the file prosecutable."
Woman pushed to ground, robbed
The RCMP are on the lookout for two males after a woman was robbed on the 18800 block of Lougheed Highway on Monday evening.
Two males assaulted a female victim around 9:40 p.m. by pushing her to the ground. One of the males took her wallet, described as blue with white polka dots.
The males both fled west on foot.
RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop said, fortunately, the female victim was not seriously injured.
“She was, however, traumatized and delayed reporting this to us. The area where this occurred is a public walkway between two residences that leads from the 11800 block of 228th Street to Burnett Street in Maple Ridge. We would like to speak to anyone that may have seen or heard anything in this area around the time of this offence,” said Dunlop.
• Any with information to the assault should call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251. Anonymous tips can be left with CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.solvecrime.ca. Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.