The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs obtained a court order against the property owner of 12 Elizabeth Drive. The property will be closed for 90 days, beginning on June 4 at noon. All individuals must vacate the premises, including the former property owner.
The community safety order, obtained in the Court of King’s Bench, bars all people from the property until the closure period ends on Sept. 2. The property will be boarded up, fenced and all the locks will be changed. SCAN members will continue to monitor the property for activity while their investigation remains ongoing. Community safety order conditions remain in effect until June 4, 2027.
“The safety of all Albertans and their families remains a top priority for our government. I want to thank SCAN and the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP for their dedication in helping residents take back their neighbourhood by shutting down a long-standing problem property that put the community at risk. The closure of this property sends a clear message to drug dealers across Alberta: You are not welcome here. I encourage all Albertans to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious activity in their communities.”
“Working alongside local partners, such as the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP, SCAN is making a meaningful difference in communities across Alberta. Units provincewide remain dedicated to addressing crime and protecting the safety and quality of life of all residents.”
“Since 2022, RCMP have had almost 100 calls for service ranging from disturbances, assaults, mischief and thefts at this property. We are thankful for the strong community involvement that supported the more property-focused actions taken by the SCAN unit today.”
The Alberta Sheriffs work with other law enforcement agencies to shut down properties being used for illegal activities. The SCAN unit operates under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which uses legal sanctions and court orders to hold owners accountable for illegal activity happening on their property.
Since its inception in 2008, Alberta’s SCAN unit has investigated more than 10,000 properties and has issued more than 130 community safety orders. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop the illegal activity on their property.
Quick facts
- From January to August 2024, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP received 25 complaints related to drug and criminal activity at the property.
- Complainants reported suspicious persons, assaults, drug possession and drug trafficking.
- Throughout 2024, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP arrested several occupants in the property.
- In September 2024, EMS and the RCMP attended the property on two separate occasions. Drug paraphernalia was observed during both visits and responders assisted two known drug users experiencing overdoses.
- On Nov. 7, 2024, SCAN served a warning letter to the property owner, who was the primary resident. At that time, two other individuals known to the RCMP were present in the basement, where SCAN investigators observed drug paraphernalia and torches.
Related information
Related news
- Sheriffs shutter problem property in Beaumont (Nov. 12, 2024)