Drug suspect sprung on Crown consent
City police force says Shawn Mitchell Wright, 48, of Fredericton, was arrested Jan. 30 as part of integrated enforcement unit investigation into alleged trafficking activity in capital
The same day that police announced a drug-trafficking bust that netted quantities of suspected fentanyl and morphine, the suspect whom they arrested was released on consent of the Crown.
The Fredericton Police Force issued a news release Monday afternoon about an arrest and drug seizure effected by its officers and others with an integrated enforcement unit (IEU) Jan. 30.
It said Shawn Mitchell Wright was arrested in that police operation.
“Police seized 21.07 grams of fentanyl, along with various other drugs, cash and weapons,” the release said.
“Wright was held in custody pending a future court date.”
And the suspect was held in custody - until Monday morning, hours before the police force issued the release.
Wright, 48, of Neighbourly Way, appeared in Fredericton provincial court remotely from a provincial jail for a bail hearing Monday morning.
However, the hearing didn’t proceed as scheduled, as prosecutor Patricia Gillett said the Crown was withdrawing its objection to Wright’s release, provided he abides by the conditions included in a judicial release order.
Judge Mélanie Poirier LeBlanc issued that order Monday morning.
Wright is accused of Jan. 30 counts of possession of fentanyl and morphine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of $545 believed to be the proceeds of crime.
He also faces a Nov. 25 charge of personal possession of methamphetamine.
The judge ordered him to return to provincial court March 3 to elect mode of trial and enter pleas.
The police news release said the investigation linked to Wright’s arrest is ongoing.
It noted that IEU teams consist of Mounties, officers with New Brunswick’s nine municipal forces and peace officers with the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety.
The goal of the IEU teams are disruption of violence, the use of firearms and drug trafficking in New Brunswick.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.