ESTEVAN — A call for a disturbance at an Estevan motel resulted in several charges, including drug trafficking.
According to the May 30 report from the Estevan Police Service (EPS), during the night shift, members received a complaint of several people yelling and fighting in a motel room in the city centre. On arrival, the EPS said members observed one of the parties in a room that had visible damage to the window and blood on the building exterior. The other individual(s) were unaccounted for on initial contact.
Police entered the room on exigent circumstances to ensure that no injured persons were present, at which time they observed what the EPS said was evidence of "drug trafficking in plain sight". Further investigation identified the individual from whom the blood came and confirmed his well-being.
As a result of the investigation, 33-year-old Jerry Joseph Maertens was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and separate counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. He was also charged with failing to comply with the conditions of a release order.
The EPS added items seized during the investigation included brass knuckles, 29.1 grams of methamphetamine, 3.6 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams cocaine and Canadian currency.
Maertens was remanded to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on June 1 to answer to the charges. At that time, the Crown said it was opposed to his release and it was looking to revoke his previous release order. He remains in custody and is to be back in court June 2 in Weyburn.
SaskToday will have updates as they become available.
