Police seize guns, drugs in 3 visits to downtown hotel

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This article was published 16/12/2019 (1839 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police seized firearms, drugs and cash during three visits to a downtown Winnipeg hotel early last month.

Police announced the arrests of three Winnipeg men on Tuesday after three separate incidents at the Windsor Hotel over a five-day span in early November.

Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Max Waddell said he believes the incidents were unrelated, but are examples of the rising illicit drug and firearms trade across the city. He also said he believes discussing the possibility of closing the Windsor Hotel, located on Garry Street, would be a move in the right direction in light of these incidents.

During a routine visit to the establishment on Nov. 2, members of the WPS Guns and Gangs Unit arrested a suspect in breach of a court order in a suite and seized a bag in his possession containing cocaine, crack cocaine, and OxyNeo pills, among other unknown substances, with a combined street value of almost $20,000. Officers also seized two firearms, five cellphones and $7,600 in cash.

Sean Bennett, 46, is charged with two counts of cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft and several firearms charges.

Waddell said the seized goods exemplifies what police have been dealing with this past year.

During an ongoing investigation two days later, officers arrested a suspect at the hotel in possession of 6.5 ounces of methamphetamine, a .22-calibre rifle and an improvised firearm.

David Allan White, 55, faces possession for the purpose of trafficking and firearms charges.

Waddell said he believes a skilled machinist constructed the improvised firearm from high-grade metal parts, owing to the fact it’s comprised of a handle from another firearm and has a particular spring mechanism.

“We have seen more and more of this exact model, which tells me that someone in this city is actually manufacturing and selling these,” Waddell said.

Waddell said Winnipeg police had seized 69 similar handmade guns as of the end of September. This includes one incident in which police arrested an individual in possession of 12.

“It is most certainly a trend,” he said. “It’s a way to avoid detection from law enforcement.”

In the third incident, officers responded to a call of a shot fired inside the hotel’s lounge on Nov. 6.

The suspect had fled the premises before police arrived but officers seized a bag belonging to the suspect that contained two sawed-off shotguns, a semi-automatic rifle and ammunition.

Randall Preston Bourassa, 31, was taken into custody on Dec. 11. He faces assault and firearms offences.

“2019 has been a challenging year not only for law enforcement, but for the entire city,” Waddell said.

“It is not sending a positive message to where we’re headed in the future,” said Waddell. “But I can tell you… every effort is being made, not only with law enforcement, but from health and all municipal governments and federal government to take action to try and disrupt and dismantle individuals that are involved in these types of crimes.”

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca