Warrant leads to seizure of drugs, gun

January 3, 2025

Five people have been charged after police seized drugs and a loaded handgun following a search of a south side residence.

Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Intelligence Unit and Emergency Task Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1000 block of Donald Street East on the afternoon of Thursday, January 3.

 

Police seized quantities of suspected cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. The estimated street value of the seized drugs exceeds $120,000. Officers also seized a firearm, cash totalling more than $13,000 and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.

 

Michelle BENOIT, 39, of Thunder Bay; Delmar FLETCHER, 19, of Scarborough; Trevor HOFFMANN, 21, of Scarborough, a 17-year-old from Bradford, and a 15-year-old from Toronto are charged with the following:

 

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine)

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (fentanyl)

• Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000

• Careless Storage of a Firearm

• Possession of Loaded Prohibited Firearm

• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm

• Unauthorized Possession of Weapon

• Unauthorized Possession of Firearm

 

BENOIT is also charged with Breach of Judicial Release Order. The 15-year-old is also charged with Possession of Prohibited Firearm Contrary to Order x2, Breach of Judicial Release Order, Breach of Peace Bond, and Breach of Probation x2. The 17-year-old is also charged with Breach of Peace Bond x2.

 

The accused appeared in court on Friday.

 

The investigation remains ongoing.

October 3, 2025
The Thunder Bay Police Service is continuing to advise the public of scams that target local residents. Police regularly receive reports of residents who have been victimized by fraudulent residential rental scams. Residential rental scams happen when a person interested in renting a property believes they are communicating with the owner or landlord of an available property. The renter may be pressured into paying a deposit to view the property, or live elsewhere and be unable to view a property in person before agreeing to rent it. The renter pays a deposit, only to find that the property was never available for rent. The deposit – and the “landlord” - disappear. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Red flags to watch for include the landlord asking for cash only, a cash security deposit, or money to be wired. Tips Don’t send money to anyone you have not met in person and/or for property you have not seen in person. Ask for identification from anyone showing you the property and write down the licence plate if they arrive in a vehicle. Search for owner information in the Land Titles office to confirm you are dealing with the owner. The Thunder Bay Police Service’s Economic Crime Unit urges residents to speak to family members and friends who may be vulnerable to being targeted by these types of scams. If you are concerned about potential scams and want to learn more, please visit https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/safety/fraud-prevention or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre ( http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/ ) To make a fraud/cyber crime online report to the Thunder Bay Police Service, please visit: https://www.services.tryrubicon.com/thunder-bay-police-service/online-reports/report/fraud-cybercrime
October 1, 2025
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