11 charged in drug investigation, raid

Chatham-Kent police scooped up seven C-K residents following six months of drug investigations, part of “Project Fresh.”

Possession and trafficking charges were doled out for a litany of drugs, to people of various ages.

Furthermore, a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant was also executed April 16 at an apartment building on Thames Street in Chatham resulting in another four people being arrested.

“Project Fresh” has led to these seven arrests below.

Jeremy Swistun, 35 years, of Park Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Cocaine
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Hydromorphone

He has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing on April 23.

Michael VanDusen, 34 years, of Sandys Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Heroin

He has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing on April 23.

Richard Reycraft, 50 years, of Princess Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine (four counts)
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine (four counts)
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Cocaine (four counts)

He has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing on April 24.

Spencer Wright, 24 years, of Thames Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Heroin
• Possession of Methamphetamine

Ivan Hotte, 66 years, of Thames Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine

Jacques Lachance, 29 years, of Emma Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine

Benjiamino Turato, 28 years, of Donalda Drive in Chatham has been charged with:

• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Heroin (two counts)
• Uttering Threats

The apartment building raid on Thames Street led to these charges below.

Melvin Manley, 46 years, of Thames Street in Chatham has been charged with:

• Possession of Methamphetamine
• Possession of Heroin
• Possession of Cocaine
• Possession of Fentanyl
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon contrary to a Prohibition Order (four counts)
• Possession of a Prohibited Device while knowing the item is Prohibited (two counts)
• Failing to Comply with his Release Conditions (three counts)

He has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing on May 1.

Joy Fields, 53 years, of Winter Line Road in Pain Court has been charged with:

• Possession of Heroin
• Possession of Methamphetamine

She has been released pending a future court date of May 2.

Nichole Fields, 32 years, of Winter Line Road in Pain Court has been charged with:

• Possession of Heroin
• Possession of Methamphetamine
• Possession of Cocaine
• Possession of Fentanyl

She has been released pending a future court date of May 2.

Tawnya Gold, 35 years, of Camden Street in Dresden has been charged with:

• Possession of Heroin
• Possession of Methamphetamine

She has been released pending a future court date of May 2.

Chatham-Kent police Insp. Trevor Crane said patience and investigation paid off.

“Yesterday’s arrests highlight the results of ‘Project Fresh’ that specifically targeted criminal activity in our community. ‘Project Fresh’ was a long and tedious undertaking initiated and co-ordinated by our Intelligence Section over the past several months,” he said in a media release. “While the number of arrests and charges are very significant, it is a continuing battle to combat the flow of drugs and related property crimes that result from their sales and use.”