News Release: Sheriffs shut down alleged drug house in Spruce Grove

The Alberta Sheriffs have shut down a property in Spruce Grove where complaints of drug activity prompted frequent visits from police.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs obtained a court order against the owner of 31 Heatherlands Way that gives investigators the authority to close the property for 90 days, starting at noon on May 29. Any tenancy agreement or lease of any tenant of the property is terminated effective that date.

The community safety order, obtained in Court of King’s Bench, bars people from the property until the closure period ends on Aug. 27. The property will be boarded up, fenced and all the locks will be changed. SCAN unit members will continue to monitor the property for any activity while their investigation remains ongoing.

“All Albertans deserve to feel safe at home and in their communities, and the closure of yet another problem property by Alberta’s SCAN team will help ensure that remains the case. I commend all involved in shutting down this known hotspot of illegal activity so Albertans can feel safe in their communities.”

“The Alberta SCAN team’s close collaboration with law enforcement partners like the Parkland RCMP detachment on this closure is making Alberta communities significantly safer. Property closures like these not only eradicate illegal activity, but also give Albertans well-deserved peace of mind.”

“Feeling safe in our community is important to our residents. Thank you to the SCAN team and the Alberta Government for working collaboratively with our local Parkland RCMP and Enforcement Services to close this problem property and keep Spruce Grove a safe and welcoming community.”

“Since 2020, RCMP have responded to more than 100 calls for service involving this residence with occurrences ranging from drugs, disturbances, assaults and a non-suspicious death. Late last year, RCMP executed a search warrant on the property, finding fentanyl and charging one occupant with trafficking in a controlled substance. We are thankful for the opportunity to work collaboratively with SCAN in employing alternative tactics in combating a troublesome residence in the community.”

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 9,000 properties and issued 120 community safety orders. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop the illegal activity on their property.