RCMP puts a dent in recent gang conflict with pair of arrests

Two known offenders, connected to the local drug trade, have been caught by the Prince George RCMP.

On Tuesday (March 29th), officers located a man known to have outstanding warrants and local gang affiliations.

After attempting to evade police by ramming an RCMP vehicle, 31-year old Colin Michaud Durrand of PG was taken into custody.

According to police, he was in possession of both body armour and a loaded high-calibre rifle with high capacity magazines.

The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved the following charges:

– Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
– Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon in a motor vehicle
– Unauthorized possession of prohibited ammunition
– Possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized
– Transporting a firearm contrary to regulations
– Possession of a weapon
– Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to an Order x2
– Resisting arrest
– Fail to comply with probation
– Possession of body armour without a valid permit
– Possession of a firearm without a license and/or registration

Durrand and the RCMP have become well acquainted with each other over the last seven years.

In December of 2015, Durrand and another man were arrested by police after some violent incidents were reported.

Four years later, Durrand was one of several people caught by BC’s Auto Crime Team that recovered several vehicles in Prince George.

In 2020, the RCMP sought the public’s help in locating Durrand on three separate occasions, once each in July, September and October.

Sandwiched in between all of that, an August 2020 drug trafficking investigation led to further charges against him as well stolen property found at a well-known residence on Boyd Street near First Avenue and Ospika in October of that year.

Finally, Durrand was one of two prolific offenders arrested by the RCMP last November on multiple outstanding warrants.

Late Wednesday evening (March 30th), police arrested 34-year-old local resident Sebastian Goudreau, for breaching his court-ordered conditions.

He was found in possession of two loaded, restricted weapons, body armour, cash and a large quantity of suspected fentanyl. He was held for court today (Thursday).

The following charges have been approved against him:

– Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition x2
– Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized x2
– Possession of a weapon x2
– Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to an Order x5
– Possession of a firearm knowing the serial number is tampered with
– Fail to comply with release order x2
– Possession of body armour without permit
– Possession for the purpose of trafficking

“The back-to-back arrests of these two known offenders, with direct ties to the drug trade in Prince George, showcases the dedication and commitment by our Street Crew Unit and fellow officers in locating these known offenders and disrupting this recent violent criminal trend,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

Earlier today (Thursday), the RCMP mentioned all three of the city’s homicides between January and March pointed to increasing gang violence.

Two of the three homicides have occurred this month.

On March 12th, 44-year-old Robert Gordon Elliott was found inside of a residence on the 600 block of Irwin Street.

Two weeks later (March 27th), a man identified as Sahib Johal also succumbed to injuries sustained from gunshot wounds during an incident on the 1800 block of Spruce Street.

Johal is from the Lower Mainland and had gang affiliations. Johal and his associates were renting an Airbnb in the Lower College Heights area at the time of his death.

On Tuesday (March 29th), police attended an early morning shots fired call on the 700 block of Irwin Street (between 5 and 5:30 am).

According to police, the occupants of the location are known to police for their involvement in the drug trade.

The city’s first homicide was reported on January 25th when the RCMP attended the 1300 block of Porter Avenue to assist emergency crews with a male victim located in medical distress.

The victim was transported to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. He was later identified as 38-year-old local resident Derek Mitchell, who was well-known to police.

There were six homicides in Prince George last year, just one in 2020 and two in 2019.