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.

August 1, 2025
The Thunder Bay Police Service is continuing to provide advice to the public on how to avoid being victimized by fraud. Police are encouraging people to take steps to safeguard their accounts to prevent potential scammers from gaining access. One important way to keep accounts secure is to protect ID and password information. Some recommended best practices include choosing a strong password with a combination of numbers, letters and symbols, and to use unique passwords for financial, email, and social media accounts. As well, it’s important to regularly monitor financial accounts to be able to detect any nefarious activity as quickly as possible and to report any breaches to your financial institution immediately.  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 fraud. Prevention is the best protection against fraud. 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