Latest news with #CharlottetownPolice
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
B.C. man who came to P.E.I. to sell fentanyl sentenced to more than 4 years in prison
A young man who travelled to Prince Edward Island from British Columbia to sell fentanyl and other drugs to Islanders has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison — with the Supreme Court justice rebuking him for acting solely out of greed at the expense of others. Charlottetown police arrested Raiyaaz Rahim Aziz in September. He turned 18 three months before his arrest and is now 19 years old. The court heard that Aziz flew to P.E.I. from his home province. By his account, he thought he was coming to the Island to sell cannabis. Once he arrived, he drove around in a rented Audi SUV, and police were watching him as he made stops at a grocery store parking lot and residences in Sherwood. One of those homes was an Airbnb where Aziz was staying. Police got a warrant to search it, and seized 310 grams of fentanyl, 180 grams of crystal meth and 90 grams of cocaine. Neither the vehicle nor the accommodation rental were in Aziz's name. After Aziz was arrested, he told police he had been staying at the Airbnb with "other guys" who he would not name, but it was a "new group" he was working with. He said he was told not to leave the home in Sherwood unless he was meeting people to make sales, details of which were passed on to him by his contact in British Columbia. 'He knew the difference' Aziz told police he thought about backing out of the drug deals after he arrived, but felt he had no choice because the people he was with were "dangerous." But P.E.I. Supreme Court Justice Nancy Key took issue with some of those details. "He knew the difference between weed and hardcore drugs, yet he did what he was instructed," she said on Thursday while handing down her decision on Aziz's sentence. "He has no addiction issues and was motivated solely by profit." The court heard that Aziz struggled to attend high school regularly and eventually had to go to an alternative school in Vancouver, which he still hadn't completed at the time of his arrest. Fentanyl has altered the landscape of the substance abuse crisis in Canada, revealing itself as public enemy number one. — Justice Nancy Key He lived with his father, stepmother and ailing grandparents, who he helped care for. Aziz used cannabis every day, but otherwise was not a drug user, nor were his friends and family. His pre-sentence report painted a picture of a normal teenager: one who enjoys video games, eating out, playing basketball and spending time with friends and family. Aziz had spent some time in custody on P.E.I. after his arrest and described it as a "terrifying experience" where he witnessed violence and people withdrawing from drugs. He was later released with electronic monitoring after his family put up bail. Aziz returned to B.C. to live with family while he awaited his sentence and finished his high school courses. He pleaded guilty in March to having the fentanyl with the intention of selling it. The Crown later stayed charges in connection with the meth and cocaine possession. Fentanyl driving 'untold grief and suffering' An expert who previously testified characterized the amount of fentanyl and crystal meth that Aziz had — and the logistics of the operation he was a part of — as that of a mid-level trafficker, while the cocaine amount was that of a low-end, street dealer. Police estimate the total street value of the drugs was about $184,000. Key said those numbers may be impressive for news headlines, but what she finds much more significant is the "insidious, lethal" impact substances like fentanyl have on the community and how it drives addiction and the desperation of those living with it. "Fentanyl has altered the landscape of the substance abuse crisis in Canada, revealing itself as public enemy number one," she said Thursday. Key said selling the highly addictive synthetic opioid "preys disproportionately on the misery of others" and "is a crime motivated by greed and with untold grief and suffering." The justice spoke for more than an hour and a half in sentencing Aziz. She said that while he was a youthful, first-time offender who took responsibility and expressed remorse, there were parts of his story she found inconsistent. "This was a new group he was working for, what other groups had he worked for?" she asked. "The huge quantity of drugs was a commercial enterprise." She also noted that police saw Aziz drive someone to the airport, but otherwise investigators mostly observed him alone in the Audi or in the Airbnb. He said he would not name the people he was with because he was afraid, but also that he didn't know them. "He was trusted by someone to fly from B.C. to P.E.I., to drive an Audi SUV and stay in an Airbnb," Key said. Sentencing considerations The defence asked that Aziz be able to serve his sentence under a conditional order, similar to a house arrest arrangement. The Crown opposed this and asked that he go to prison for a period of nine to 10 years. If the conditional sentence wasn't an option, the defence asked that he receive a "short, sharp" bout of time in custody. Key cited all of the cases she considered when making her decision, including the recent sentencing of Tye Poirier, who had 19 grams of fentanyl more than Aziz and was sentenced to seven and a half years, as well as other cases from P.E.I. and across Canada. She said she also took Aziz's remorse, his early guilty plea, and his prospects of rehabilitation into consideration. She ultimately landed on 54 months in custody, with about three months credit for the time he already spent in jail. A sentence of that length cannot be served on P.E.I., so Aziz will go off-Island to a federal penitentiary. Once he's released, he'll be banned from owning weapons and will have to provide a sample of his DNA to a national database.
CBC
09-07-2025
- CBC
Woman, 76, found dead in Charlottetown apartment elevator shaft, police confirm
WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. A 76-year-old woman was found dead in the bottom of an elevator shaft of a Charlottetown apartment building last month, Charlottetown Police Services confirmed on Wednesday. Det.-Sgt. Darren MacDougall said that when officers responded to a call about an unusual odour in the building at around 9 a.m. on June 27, they discovered the body of the woman in the basement elevator shaft. Officers conducted an investigation to determine whether there was any criminality involved, but MacDougall said the evidence did not support that. "The tenants should know that there was no foul play, so there's no concern in that regard," he told CBC News. MacDougall said the woman had likely been dead for more than a couple of days before she was found. In a statement to CBC News, the P.E.I. Department of Justice and Public Safety said the coroner's office has been notified and the investigation is still underway. "Results from this investigation will inform the cause and manner of death. As the investigation is ongoing, it is too early to make any determinations of inquests," the statement reads. On Wednesday, signs posted in the building said the elevator would be unavailable until further notice. CBC News has reached out to Weymouth Properties, the building's owner, for comment on the situation. 'A very bad way to die' News of the death and the broken elevator has raised concern among tenants in the building, including Fairouz Gaballa. "I felt really bad," she said. "I thought it would be a very bad way to die, especially later in life." Gaballa said she has spoken only to neighbours about the incident and has not received any communication from building management. She believes management should have informed tenants and provided transparent updates. "It's their job as a company that owns this property, knowing that there's a lot of seniors here that rely on the elevators," she said. "It's 100 per cent their job and their responsibility to send an email out, to maybe hold a meeting in our community room or anything like that, and talk to people." Gaballa said some seniors in the building who use walkers are struggling to leave their apartments because they can't use the stairs. She also called on the province to investigate thoroughly and hold an inquest into the incident. We didn't get any notice at all, and nobody called us or let us know what's going on. — Hannah Ghiz, resident Other residents shared similar concerns. Hannah Ghiz said she had met the deceased woman. "She's quite an extraordinary woman. She was really nice," Ghiz said. With the elevator now out of service, Ghiz said she's using the stairs and managing, but she still wonders why residents weren't informed. "We didn't get any notice at all, and nobody called us or let us know what's going on." Farhana Akhter Monalisa, a resident of the building for six years, said she worries about seniors living alone. She believes a simple attendance system to check on elderly tenants, especially those over 80, could make a difference. "Somebody died, or somebody is sick inside the apartment, it should be found immediately," she said. Monalisa said she had complained to building management about elevator issues in the past, including a month during which she could feel the elevator shaking whenever she used it. Management eventually looked into that issue, she said. But she said more needs to be done, and all elevators across the province should be checked rigorously and more frequently. Under P.E.I.'s Elevators and Lifts Act, every elevating device must be inspected by an inspector at least once a year, or more frequently if deemed necessary for safety by the chief inspector.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Woman, 34, charged after Charlottetown police officer injured during arrest
A Charlottetown Police Services sign is pictured in this file photo. A 34-year-old woman is facing charges after a Charlottetown Police Services officer was injured during an arrest. Officers witnessed a verbal fight between a man and a woman at the corner of Great George Street and Kent Street just before 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say the officers intervened as the situation appeared to be escalating. 'Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, however, during the intervention, the female became physically aggressive and combative,' reads a news release from Charlottetown Police Services. Police say one of the officers was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for minor injuries and released. The woman was charged with: assaulting an officer resisting arrest The unnamed woman was taken into custody and later released. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 24. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Man charged with endangerment after dangling child from balcony: Charlottetown police
A Charlottetown Police Services sign is pictured in this file photo. A 41-year-old man is facing assault and child endangerment charges after he allegedly dangled a child over a balcony in Charlottetown. Charlottetown Police Services received a call around 5:15 p.m. Saturday from a concerned citizen who reported an assault at a residence on Upper Prince Street. The caller also told police they had also seen a man dangling a child over a third-storey balcony. Officers arrested a man at the scene and removed two children from the residence. Police say the children are both safe and receiving support through Child and Family Services. The man is facing the following charges: child endangerment two counts of assault two counts of uttering threats disturbing the peace He was remanded into custody and appeared in court on Monday. Police say he will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Thursday. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
13-06-2025
- CBC
P.E.I. coroner's office investigating 55-year-old man's death in Charlottetown park
Prince Edward Island's coroner's office is investigating a recent death at Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park in Charlottetown. Police confirm they responded to a call about a medical emergency near a parking lot off Grafton Street at about 5:30 p.m. on June 4, involving a 55-year-old man from western P.E.I. "An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time, and we hope the investigation will bring clarity and closure soon," Charlottetown Police Services said in an email to CBC News. A coroner's investigation happens when a death is sudden or suspicious, or when the cause of death is unknown. In some cases, it can lead to an inquest. For example, an inquest into a death may be called if the coroner has more questions about what happened or thinks the details of what happened should be aired in the public interest. An inquest also provides an avenue for recommendations to be made as to how similar deaths can be prevented in the future.
