By Lawrence Powell
The Spectator
NovaNewsNow.com
Two men have been charged with numerous offences in connection with break and enters in the Middleton, Nictaux, and Round Hill areas. Two other people may also be charged and police are looking for a grey Honda in connection with the investigation.
Justin Jody Dempster, 21, of Deep Brook and Brandon Leigh Richardson, 22, of New Brunswick were arrested after the Annapolis County Street Crime Enforcement Unit and the Bridgetown RCMP executed two search warrants in the past week. Police said five stolen firearms, and illegal prescription medication were recovered during the searches.
The two have been charged with numerous offences including firearms trafficking, possession of stolen firearms, possession of stolen property, and break and enter to steal firearms. Police said further charges are pending.
Police also said an Annapolis County youth and an adult female are facing similar charges but the investigation is continuing before those charges are laid and the two are arrested.
Dempster has been remanded into custody until a show/cause hearing January 23 in Comeauville. Richardson was released on an undertaking and is to appear in Annapolis Royal provincial court on March 5.
“This was a great example of neighbours looking out for neighbours, people calling police when they see something suspicious in a timely fashion, and cooperation between several police jurisdictions and forces,” said RCMP Cpl. Laurie Smith who heads up the Street Crime Enforcement Unit. “A lot of effort went into this investigation and it was quite involved. A little bit of luck at various stages of the investigation also didn’t hurt.”
Smith said he wants to remind people to lock their doors and windows when they leave home.
“It’s really simple from our point of view in that the harder it is for someone to break into your house the more opportunity there is for us to gather evidence,” he said. “My parents never locked our house in Manitoba when I grew up, but those days are gone. We need to make it difficult for the bad guys.”
Smith said police are seeking the public’s help in finding the grey Honda that was sold by the accused in the Deep Brook area on Saturday, Jan. 7. Smith said RCMP don’t suspect the current owners of the car of any wrongdoing, but would like to speak to them or anyone knowing the whereabouts of the car.
“Examining this vehicle might lead to the solving of other crimes,” Smith said. He noted that the car has a loud or missing muffler.
Smith said Digby RCMP and the Annapolis Royal Police Department have played, and continue to play, an important part in the investigation.
