Iqaluit RCMP arrest man in connection with 3 police investigations

RCMP officers in Iqaluit arrested two men after a traffic stop last week, including one they say was a subject of three separate previous police investigations.

The arrests involving the driver and a passenger occurred Feb. 4 near the Nunavut legislature building, RCMP said in a news release issued Feb. 7.

Robert Campbell, 36, who RCMP say was the passenger, and Nadeem Gebara, 40, were each charged with possession of a prohibited firearm in a motor vehicle; possession of a loaded prohibited firearm; possession of a prohibited firearm; and careless transportation of a loaded prohibited firearm.

Prior to his arrest, Campbell was wanted in connection with several other police investigations, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. George Henrie said.

For those, Campbell was also charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats to a police officer, break and enter, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, and failure to comply with a release order.

Campbell was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in court March 4 in Iqaluit. Gebara was released on bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 3 in Iqaluit.

Police did not say what circumstances led to the traffic stop.

Gebara had also been arrested earlier, on  Jan. 24, after police searched two homes in Iqaluit. In that incident, he was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for trafficking, and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime.

A second man was also arrested and charged with several drug and weapon-related offences.

In a news release Jan. 30, RCMP said the searches of those two properties uncovered one ounce of cocaine, $17,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, pepper spray or bear spray, several cellphones, a stolen firearm and three polar bear carvings police believe were stolen.