ESTEVAN — Both people who were charged in connection with a drug bust in Estevan earlier this year are in custody.
Trisha Deanne Coulter and Geoffrey Wade Hirst both had their matters heard in Estevan Provincial Court on Sept. 15. It was noted that Coulter was arrested in Manitoba recently and is being held in custody in that province. Details on the charges were not immediately available.
Coulter had been released with conditions following her arrest.
As for Hirst, he was scheduled to have a show-cause hearing Sept. 15 in Estevan to determine if he would be eligible for bail, but instead he was held in custody. Hirst also has matters in Regina, Weyburn and Fort Qu’Appelle that were adjourned to those communities. He has been in custody since his arrest.
Both had their Estevan matters adjourned to Sept. 29.
Background: According to the Estevan Police Service, Hirst and Coulter were charged Aug. 1.
The EPS said its Drug Intelligence Unit and Criminal Investigations Unit executed a search warrant, which was authorized under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as part of a drug-trafficking investigation.
During the search, the EPS reports its members seized approximately $5,000 cash, along with cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $5,000.
Hirst and Coulter have been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of methamphetamine, as per the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and possession of proceeds of crime not exceeding $5,000 under the Criminal Code.
Hirst was also charged with public mischief for providing false information to the EPS, stemming from an incident that took place July 31, which resulted in the Joint Tactical Support Team deploying to a hotel in the 1100-block of Third Street for a person reportedly in possession of a firearm.
The EPS says the tactical response and subsequent investigation led police to believe the reported firearms offences were unfounded.
SaskToday will have updates as they become available.
