OPP identify 22 people arrested in Renfrew, Pembroke, Arnprior drug trafficking operation

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is identifying 22 people who have been arrested and charged in relation to a several-month-long drug trafficking investigation called 'Project Nield.'

Officers executed eight search warrants at several locations in the towns of Pembroke, Renfrew and Arnprior on December 2. 

Suspected fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamines, and psilocybin were among the drugs seized. Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW), pepper spray, rifles and replica pistols and ammunition were also seized. The OPP says cell phones and items associated to the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, such as scales and debt lists, were found during the searches too. 

More arrests and charges are expected.  

Inspector Stephan Neufeld, Detachment Commander of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP, was ecstatic about the arrests and said this sweep along the towns bordering Highway 17 is unlike anything he has seen or heard about in the Ottawa Valley.

“There have been some cases where several OPP officers were active within the Ottawa Valley but we have never seen anything like this in recent history,” he said “This operation was led by our CSCU and that unit is comprised of a few specialized officers from the Pembroke, Renfrew and Killaloe detachments. They are a proud group of officers and for them, it is a message that we are here and we are not going anywhere.”

Inspector Neufeld said, in addition to the officers assigned to the five detachments, officers from outside the Valley took part in the exercise and he commended all those involved for carrying out the operation without any injuries or incidents.

“We had officers take part in this operation and they travelled from as far as Trenton to assist our group in this complex operation,” he said. “The people of the Ottawa Valley can be proud of the work of our officers and the professionalism they displayed throughout the project.”

The following people have been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code (CC) and/or CDSA offences, as a result of Project Nield:

Michelle Denise Arnold, 54, of Pembroke:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – codeine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine – two counts
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition obtained by crime
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purposes of trafficking – heroin
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking – alprazolam

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 6, 2021.

Cody Brandon Burke, 29, of Pembroke:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – fentanyl – five counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – nine counts
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – four counts
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – crystal methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance – cocaine

The accused was held for a bail hearing and subsequently released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 18, 2022.

Rachelle Marie Desormeaux, 78, of Renfrew:

• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Malik Khalid Gebara, 19, of Ottawa:

• Possession of schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Thomas John Gilks, 21, of Arnprior:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Peter William Winston Goyette, 39, of Gatineau:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – two counts

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 6, 2021.

Michael Gordon Greenfield, 38, of L'Isle aux Allumettes, QC:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – three counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – three counts
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – crystal methamphetamine – two counts

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Jean Gilles Lafontaine, 55, of Pembroke:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – three counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – six counts
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – crystal methamphetamine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – other drugs – three counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – heroin
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine – two counts
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition obtained by crime
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking – alprazolam- two counts

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 6, 2021.

Tammy Sue Laundrie, 57, of Renfrew:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – four counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – five counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purposes of trafficking – cocaine – two counts

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Thomas Laundrie, 54, of Renfrew:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – five counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – six counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purposes of trafficking – cocaine – two counts

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Patrick Martin Lawrence, 35, of Pembroke:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – crystal methamphetamine – five counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – five counts

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Tammy Lynn Leclaire, 51, of Renfrew:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking – alprazolam

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 7, 2021.

Shawn James McAdam, 48, of Renfrew:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Kyle Ambrose Peplinskie, 35, of Pembroke:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking – psilocybin
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 – two counts
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a weapon
• Possession of imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order – three counts

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 8, 2021.

Sarah Proksch, 25, of Pembroke:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 – two counts
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a weapon
• Possession of imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 7, 2021.

Jason Joseph Ranger, 47, of Pembroke:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Matthew Ranger, 24, of Pembroke:

• Fail to comply with probation order – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
• Failure to comply with release order
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 17, 2021.

Kachina Tyra Sackaney, 28, of Golden Lake:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – two counts

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Heidi Alicia Scanes, 37, of Pembroke:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on December 6, 2021.

Logan Anthony Stevens, 25, of Pembroke:

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

Roseanne Marie Sylvester, 38, of Pembroke:

• Traffic in a schedule I substance – cocaine – four counts
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 – five counts
• Traffic in a schedule I substance – crystal methamphetamine

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 25, 2022.

A 17-year-old young person from Ajax, ON was also charged with the following CC, CDSA and Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) offences:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – codeine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Obstruct Peace Officer
• Fail to comply with sentence

The name of the youth cannot be released in accordance with the YCJA. The accused was held for a bail hearing and subsequently released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Youth Division in Pembroke on January 27, 2022.