Dawson Creek, B.C.- Charges have been laid against an alleged UN gang associated who was arrested in the Dawson Creek area on August 30^th.

The charges are the result of an investigation launched in mid August by the  North District CFSEU office.  The focus was on a group of drug dealers who were believed to have established a foothold on a large property outside Dawson Creek. This group was reportedly made up of gang members from the Grande Prairie, Alberta area that had set up in Dawson Creek and led by the prime suspect, who is alleged to be a UN gang associate. Information was quickly developed that indicated that the rural property, which is about 400 acres in size, held a significant amount of high-value stolen property, as well as drugs and guns.

On Friday, August 30th a search warrant was executed by CFSEU-BC North District and Dawson Creek RCMP members with help from RCMP North District Police Dog Services and Air Services.

During the execution of the warrant, the suspect, who had been inside a stolen travel trailer, fled on foot and then on a nearby ATV. It took officers chasing on foot, RCMP K9’s, and the help of Air Services about four hours to finally capture the suspect. When he was finally arrested, police say the 32-year-old man was in possession of a bag  that held a loaded Smith & Wesson .22 calibre handgun, approximately $35,000 in cash, five ounces of crack and powder cocaine, about half an ounce of methamphetamine, and several opiate pills.

A search of the property resulted in the seizure of a large amount of stolen property that included a Sea Doo boat, a late model 32 foot travel trailer, two pickup trucks, a late model Polaris quad ATV, and a Yamaha R1 motorcycle. The combined value of the stolen property is conservatively estimated at about $200,000.

32-year-old Robert Cletus Traverse has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of property obtained by crime, one count of possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, and one count of possession of a firearm contrary to an order.

Traverse has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Dawson Creek Provincial Court on September 16th.