Drug trafficking problem is on a rise in Canada for the last couple of years. Winnipeg authorities started a full-scale investigation into city`s meth problem. As per Winnipeg Police, there is a spike in meth-related crime incidents, like property theft, residential break-ins, unreasonable anger towards each other (meth users) and other people around them, violent attacks, some ending up in lethal outcomes for victims.
On Wednesday, November 14th Winnipeg Police got a call about a violent, possibly armed man at a West End business. Police officers arrived at the business, in the 600 block of Ellice Avenue, around 2:20 p.m.
They found the suspect at another business nearby. The suspect was searched and police found four individually-wrapped pieces of crack cocaine, one gram of cocaine wrapped in a baggie, 37 Percocet pills, around $252 in cash, a cell phone and a purse.
While police were investigating, they say a man approached them and told them the suspect had pointed a gun at him and stolen his cell phone shortly before officers got there.
Dion James Bear, 21, faces charges of armed robbery using a firearm, pointing a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of cocaine, possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
The suspect has been detained at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and the investigation still ongoing. More details will be presented in the official statement when the investigation is closed.
Methamphetamine and crack are a very real problem in Canada, the majority of people involved are youth and older teenagers. There is a study conducted by Winnipeg Police department about how people on meth are no longer productive, so they have to find other ways to get money to fuel their addiction and get more drugs. People on meth turn to pity theft and other, more serious crimes. Bike theft, residential break-ins, garage theft is now a rising problem in the city.