Police charge man and woman with multiple firearms and drug trafficking offenses

CITYnews halifax \ By CityNews Halifax Staff

Regional police have laid firearms and drug trafficking charges after searching a home in Halifax on Friday morning.

Police say at roughly 1:25 a.m., officers searched a home on Travertine Court as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police arrested a man and a woman at the scene where they seized a loaded firearm, over a kilogram of cocaine, over 600 grams of methamphetamine and roughly $22,000.

Shontez Oshay Dechamp, 27, and Vanessa Grace Mallares, 28, were scheduled to appear in Halifax provincial court on Friday to face charges of:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x2)
• Unsafe storage of a firearm
• Unsafe storage of a firearm contrary to regulations
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Possession of firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm with ammunition
• Possession of firearm obtained by commission of an offence
• Possession of property obtained by crime

Dechamp is also facing the following charges in relation to the search:

• Possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to firearm prohibition order (x2)
• Failure to surrender firearms and ammunition as directed by a court order (x2)
• Possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to a court order (x2)

On April 19 and May 18, officers attempted to stop Dechamp while he was driving as the officers were aware he is prohibited from operating a vehicle.

According to police, both times, Dechamp refused to stop and officers did not pursue his vehicle out of safety concerns.

He is facing the following charges in relation to these two incidents:

• Driving while prohibited (x2)
• Dangerous operation of a conveyance (x2)
• Flight from police (x2)
• Escape lawful custody
• Resisting arrest
• Breach of probation (x4)