LA RONGE – A 35-year-old man who was out on bail on a manslaughter charge is back in custody after police arrested him on Tuesday in a drug trafficking investigation.
John McDonnel, from La Ronge, now faces additional charges including eight firearms-related offences, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of failing to comply with a release order, and possession of property obtained by crime.
In November 2023, La Ronge RCMP had issued a warrant for McDonnel’s arrest and charged him with manslaughter in the death of 42-year-old Randy Halkett on Nov. 8, 2023. He was arrested days later in La Ronge.
McDonnel then had a bail hearing in December 2023, according to court documents, and was granted bail.
His latest arrest on Feb. 20 was by the La Ronge RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and RCMP Police Dog Services after they executed a search warrant at an apartment building in La Ronge in a drug trafficking investigation. During the search, police seized a loaded handgun, 60 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of methamphetamine, a sum of cash and other drug paraphernalia.
At the apartment, police also arrested Denise Charles, 30, from La Ronge. Charles was charged with a weapons offence, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, failing to comply with a probation order, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Both McDonnel and Charles are scheduled to appear in La Ronge Provincial Court on Feb. 22.
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