Four charged over pot, death threats, in Pond Inlet

JOHN THOMPSON

RCMP in Pond Inlet arrested four people last week for trafficking pot, and in one case, uttering death threats.

All four came from outside the community. But after about a month residents became fed up and reported them to police, detachment commander Cpl. Chris Bewsher said.

He said he’s concerned dope dealers from outside have become attracted to Pond Inlet. “They can get more for the drugs here. And their customer base, I’m sad to say, is quite high here.”

“They come in and they exploit people’s weaknesses,” Bewsher said.

“And all that money leaves the community. It’s something we want to be proactive about.”

On Jan. 28, police received complaints about a man making rounds from home to home, threatening residents for drug money they owed him. After making a patrol, police picked up Ronald Tary of Prince George, B.C., as he approached another house in the 600 block in Pond Inlet.

After arresting Tary, police recovered $2,645 in cash and about $18,000 in money order receipts sent out of the community. Police also seized drug packaging materials. Tary has been charged with drug trafficking and uttering threats.

Tary, 38, is being held in custody until his show-cause hearing in Iqaluit on Feb. 2. The RCMP in Pond Inlet have asked that Tary not be released back into their community, for fear of public safety and that he might skip court. Tary’s next court date in Pond Inlet is May 2, 2006.

Two days before Tary’s arrest, police searched a Pond Inlet home and discovered $8,645 in cash, 137 grams of marijuana, electronic scales and drug paraphernalia.

They arrested three Igloolik residents: 40-year-old William Edmunds, 34-year-old Helen Apak and 27-year-old Clara Uttak, who have all been charged with trafficking pot.

All three are to appear in court on May 2 in Pond Inlet.