Strathmore RCMP responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle parked on a Township Road in rural Wheatland County on Thursday, December 29 which resulted in the arrest of one male and the seizure of drugs and guns.
A complainant called in regarding the suspicious vehicle, which was parked off a rural roadway on Township Road 244, east of Highway 21 in rural Wheatland County. The vehicle was reported to have been there for several hours.
“I’d like to thank the resident who reported what, in their observation, was suspicious activity,” says Strathmore RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Mark Wielgosz. “Reporting suspicious activity is of great assistance in keeping our communities safe, which was evidenced in this investigation.”
Upon arrival, the vehicle appeared unoccupied, however, upon approach a male occupant was found sleeping in the driver seat. A scale and a baggie with a white substance was also visible from outside of the vehicle.
The occupant was arrested and removed from the vehicle. While removing the male occupant, a .22 calibre handgun was noticed on the driver floorboard. Once in custody, a more thorough search of the vehicle was conducted where another, loaded 9mm handgun was found in a satchel on the passenger seat.
Additional items seized included a clear bag with 1.4 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine with an estimated street value of $140; a pink bag with 4.8 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine with an estimated street value of $480; 52 grams of light blue pills believed to be fentanyl with an estimated street value of $10,400; and 30 grams of what is believed to be a cutting agent.
The occupant of the vehicle was taken to the Strathmore RCMP Detachment where he underwent an assessment to determine his level of sobriety, the result of which was an opinion of impairment by Cannabis.
Oussama Moumi, a 22 year old resident of Wheatland County, was charged with 17 offences including three counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public; two counts of careless use or storage of a firearm; two counts of possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm; two counts of occupying a motor vehicle knowing a firearm was present; two counts of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm; two counts trafficking in a controlled substance; possession of a firearm while prohibited from doing so; and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 after it was determined the .22 calibre handgun was confirmed stolen in a 2013 rural break-in near Cochrane.
Moumi was remanded into custody and issued an Immediate Roadside Sanction for impairment by drug. He remains in custody at this time.
