This release was issued under a previous government.
A Community Safety Order (CSO) granted against the owner of 390 Aberdeen Street SE gives SCAN the authority to fence the property, board up the house and change the locks. Under terms of the order, anyone living at the house – including the owner – must vacate the property and it will remain closed for 90 days.
“Keeping Alberta’s communities safe is a priority for our government and I thank the law enforcement personnel involved in this closure. This work is integral to protecting the neighbourhoods we call home.”
The CSO and resulting closure are part of ongoing, combined efforts to address criminal activity associated with the property, which is across the street from a daycare centre.
The Medicine Hat Police Service launched a co-ordinated strategy in April 2016 that included directed patrols, surveillance and an undercover buy/bust operation that resulted in drug-related criminal charges against a 44-year-old male occupant of the property.
In May 2016, SCAN conducted surveillance and observed evidence of drug activity. SCAN used its evidence, along with intelligence gathered by Medicine Hat police, to obtain a CSO in Court of Queen’s Bench on Aug. 18, 2016. SCAN will continue to monitor the property following today’s closure.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: At 3 p.m., Insp. Mike Letourneau from SCAN and Sgt. Stacey Kesler from the Medicine Hat Police Service will be available for on-camera interviews at 390 Aberdeen Street SE, Medicine Hat.