Officials with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) announced Thursday that a number of people had been arrested, including one member of the Hells Angels, and all were facing charges in connection to a major drug investigation.
ALERT said officers executed four search warrants at the same time, with the help of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, on January 30 – three of the homes targeted in the searches are in Edmonton, the fourth is located in St. Albert.
Inside the homes, officers seized a variety of items, including a Hells Angels MC vest that contained illegal drugs, two rifles, and a loaded handgun along with ammunition and other gun parts, four body armour vests, 350 grams of cocaine, oxycodone pills and drug trafficking paraphernalia, two fake driver’s licenses, and $23,000 cash, and a vehicle.
Investigators said said Blake Christie, 32, was the focus of the investigation, and is a member of Hells Angels.
ALERT said a loaded handgun was seized from Christie’s home, and he was arrested in north Edmonton, he faces a total of 11 charges ranging from weapons-related charges, to counts of drug and document possession.
A total of 10 people are facing 39 charges ranging from firearms-related charges, to drug possession and trafficking charges: Kelly Kratky, 29, Denise Measor, 26, Melvin Kratky, 26, Paula House, 39, Zanah Palani, 23, Hiwa Palani, 26, and Tamara Clarke.
In addition, police said warrants had been issued for Terri Huebner, 31, and Kendra Christie, 33 – they’re each facing six charges stemming from this investigation.