1. Police arrest UN gang associate near Dawson Creek
When anti-gang police arrived on a rural Dawson Creek property Aug. 30, their suspect burst out of
a stolen travel trailer barefoot and took off on an all-terrain vehicle.
With the help of an RCMP helicopter, police dogs were finally able to corner the associate of the
notorious United Nations gang four hours later.
Robert Cletus Traverse, 32, is now facing drug trafficking and firearms charges, as well as a count of
possession of property obtained by crime.
He appeared in Dawson Creek provincial court Monday and was remanded in custody until Sept. 16.
He is also wanted on warrants in Alberta, as well as Newfoundland, where he faces charges of
sexually assaulting a minor in 2011.
Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, said Monday that while
Traverse escaped without his shoes, he managed to grab a satchel that contained a gun and cash.
"When he was finally arrested, the 32-year-old man was caught carrying a bag that held a loaded
Smith Wesson .22-calibre handgun, approximately $35,000 in cash, five ounces of crack and powder
cocaine, about half and ounce of methamphetamine, and several opiate pills," Houghton said.
He said his agency, along with Dawson Creek RCMP, executed a search warrant on the large
property on Aug. 30 as part of an investigation into a drug-trafficking group believed to have set up
in the area.
"This group was reportedly made up of gang members from the Grande Prairie, Alta., area that had
set up in Dawson Creek and led by the prime suspect, who happened to be a UN gang associate,"
Houghton said. "Information was quickly developed that indicated that the rural property, which is
about 400 acres in size, held a significant amount of high-value stolen property, as well as drugs and
2. guns."
Among the stolen items recovered from the property were a Sea Doo boat, a late model 32-foot
travel trailer, two pickup trucks, a late model Polaris quad all-terrain vehicle and a Yamaha R1
motorcycle.
Houghton said the combined value of the stolen property is estimated at about $200,000.
Sgt. Scott West, of Dawson Creek RCMP, said "there will be a number of people that will be pleased
to have their property returned as well as disrupting a drug distributor which was having a negative
impact on our area."
Houghton said the investigation developed very quickly.
"We feel that we've been able to disrupt a significant drug and stolen property operation in B.C.'s
Peace Region," he said.
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/09/09/163726/