Missing police badge recovered in proactive traffic stop

CITYnews halifax/ By Rachel Morgan

Three individuals are facing chargers after a proactive traffic stop led to the seizure of methamphetamine, unstamped tobacco, and a wallet containing a police badge an identification that had previously been reported missing.

RCMP stopped a black Ford F150 on Lisgar Street in Springhill on March 4 after determining that the vehicle was displaying different from and back out-of province licence plates. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed unstamped tobacco on the dash of the vehicle.

Officers from Cumberland County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit assisted with a search of the vehicle.

Officers say that during the search, packaged and unstamped tobacco, and a duffle bag containing crystal methamphetamine, items associated with drug trafficking, and a wallet containing an RCMP badge and identification.

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Officers determined that the RCMP badge had previously been reported in New Brunswick. At the time, investigators say they do not believe the badge and identification items have been used in personation attempts.

Police arrested three occupants of the vehicle.

Cody Cottendenm, 35; Vincent Mallory, 40; and Samuel Moase, 29, all from Amherst, have each been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime. They have also been charged with possession of police articles under the Nova Scotia Police Identity Management act.

Mallory was released pending a future court appearance, but currently Cottenden and Moase remain in custody.

The investigation is ongoing.