A suspected illegal needle exchange site in Grand Forks was broken up over the weekend by RCMP.
On Saturday, Feb. 19 at 10:21 p.m., members of the Grand Forks and Midway RCMP detachments executed a search warrant on a residence on 6th Street, near Central Avenue, and prescription drugs were found as well as evidence suggesting the residence was used as an informal needle exchange site, sayS Grand Forks RCMP. The search warrant was issued under provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Morphine, Oxycodone and Ativan were amongst the drugs seized and other items found were syringes, saline solution, alcohol swabs, rubber arm bands and police also found a Sharps/biohazard container near the back door as well as a readily available supply of syringes stocked there.
Morphine that was meant to be taken orally, due to the prescription nature of it, had been modified for injection, read a release.
Police suspect it was used as a informal needle exchange because of the documented items, as well as a number of pamphlets on safe methods for injecting and smoking methamphetamine and cocaine. Police didn’t seize the pamphlets.
Police also left prescription drugs that appeared in a form and quantity that suggested they were prescribed by a doctor.
RCMP are holding back charges because of the complex nature of the sale and distribution of prescription drugs and they will be getting assistance from federal Crown counsel to determine the appropriate charges in the investigation.
The search warrant was executed after RCMP received a number of complaints and Crime Stopper tips from the public.
Police have not released any information on whether any arrests were made or warrants have been put out regarding the raid.
In other police news, on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. police got a report of a possible impaired driver that left Donaldson Drive, heading towards downtown. Police located the vehicle a short time later. The vehicle was followed and stopped on Highway 3 near Johnny’s Motel.
The driver, a 43-year-old Grand Forks resident, showed strong symptoms of impaired driving, says Grand Forks RCMP Cpl. Richard Lanz.
The woman, however, refused to provide a breath sample for the roadside screening device.
Refusing to provide a breathe sample when impairment is evident is seen as similar to blowing in the fail range and is the equivalent to blowing at a blood alcohol content of .08.
“As a result the driver was given a what we call an IRP (Immediate Roadside Prohibition) for 90 days,” says Lanz. The vehicle the woman was driving was also impounded for 30 days.
Later in the day, at 6:46 p.m., police were called to a rollover accident which occurred on Highway 3 and Sleepy Hallow Road. Police attended.
Lanz says that the driver suffered only minor head injuries and that alcohol was not related as a factor to the accident.
“It appeared the vehicle lost control on the corner, misjudged the corner, and rolled the vehicle,” Lanz says.
Lanz could not comment on the death of a Grand Forks man earlier this week, of suspected drug overdose, because the matter was taken up by Boundary Hospital.