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Coquitlam RCMP seize drugs, stolen goods, weapons after searching stolen vehicle

By Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Crime

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August 19, 2024

Items seized by the Coquitlam RCMP after executing their search warrant on Aug. 12. image supplied

Coquitlam RCMP seized drugs, stolen goods and weapons after locating a stolen vehicle earlier this month.

Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the underground parking of an apartment building around North Road and Smith Street on Aug. 6, and discovered the vehicle in question was stolen from a neighbouring city.

“We would like to thank the public who promptly reported this suspicious vehicle,” said Cpl. Alexa Hodgins, media officer with the Coquitlam RCMP. “It’s important for us to hear from the community about their neighbourhood concerns. In this incident, we received the report as it was occurring which allowed our officers to quickly locate and secure the vehicle.”

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After receiving a warrant to search the vehicle on Aug. 12, officers located approximately 1.5 kg of suspected fentanyl, 400 grams of suspected psilocybin, suspected methamphetamine and suspected heroin.

They also recovered a bicycle, scooter, tools, sports cards, high-end purses, various IDs, bear spray and a BB gun with ammunition.

Hodgins said the file is still under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Coquitlam RCMP’s non-emergency line at 604-945-1550.

Suspected purple fentanyl seized from the vehicle. image supplied

Author

Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Having spent the first 20 years of his life in Port Moody, Patrick Penner has finally returned as a hometown reporter.

His youth was spent wiping out on snowboards, getting hit in the face with hockey pucks, and frolicking on boats in the Port Moody Arm.

After graduating Heritage Woods Secondary School, Penner wandered around aimlessly for a year before being given an ultimatum by loving, but concerned, parents: “rent or college.”

With that, he was off to the University of Victoria to wander slightly less aimlessly from book, to classroom, to beer, and back.

Penner achieved his undergraduate degree in 2017, majoring in political science and minoring in history.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, translating this newfound education into career opportunities proved somewhat challenging.

After working for a short time as a lowly grunt in various labour jobs, Penner’s fruitless drifting came to an end.

He decided it was time to hit the books again. This time, with focus.

Nine months later, Penner had received a certificate of journalism from Langara College and was awarded the Jeani Read-Michael Mercer Fellowship upon graduation.

When that scholarship led to a front page story in the Vancouver Sun, he knew he had found his calling.

Penner moved to Abbotsford to spend the next three years learning from grizzled reporters and editors at Black Press Media.

Assigned to the Mission Record as the city’s sole reporter, he developed a taste for investigative and civic reporting, eventually being nominated for the 2023 John Collison Investigative Journalism Award.

Unfortunately, dwindling resources and cutbacks in the community media sphere convinced Penner to seek out alternative ways to deliver the news.

When a position opened up at the Tri-Cities Dispatch, he knew it was time to jump ship and sail back home to beautiful Port Moody.