Skip to content

Patrol at problem house leads to trafficking bust

When Saanich officers passed by a known problem house in the Gorge-Tillicum neighbourhood, they found exactly what they were looking for.

When Saanich officers passed by a known problem house in the Gorge-Tillicum neighbourhood Saturday, they found exactly what they were looking for.

Just after 9 p.m. on Sept. 22, a regular and reserve officer were patrolling a rental house in the 300-block of Davida Ave. They noticed an expired insurance decal on a black Acura leaving the residence.

When questioned, the driver said there were no drugs in the car – a statement quickly proven false when the officer found $3,050 in cash and what now appears to be 10 grams of individually wrapped rock cocaine beneath the emergency brake.

Police have been called to the house numerous times for a range of reasons, from noise complaints to stolen property.

“It does have a significant impact on the neighbours,” police Sgt. Dean Jantzen said. “We want to be very clear that we’re there and we’re watching.

“As soon as you have a home like that in a neighbourhood, it becomes a focal point – a focal point for neighbours, a focal point for us and it can be very disruptive to a neighbourhood.”

The driver of the Acura, a 24-year-old Saanich resident, was arrested for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He was released on documents for court with conditions.

nnorth@saanichnews.com