Vince SharpeSA国际影视传媒檚 curiosity and sense of duty helped foil a presumed drug dealer in town.

The town councillor had been at the Nova Inn Monday, Nov. 6, after his polar bear skin had been stolen during the night. He was also doing some work in the building to help set it up for a new restaurant coming in the future.

At that time, he became aware of a suspected drug dealer staying in the Nova who had left a mysterious box on a coffee table in the lobby.

SA国际影视传媒淗e got up and he just walked out the door and left the box behind,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe about the scene.

Sharpe and another witness examined the box, finding pill bottles inside. Sharpe opened one of them, spilling its contents on the table.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was all little packages done up with cellophane wrap of crack cocaine,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe, adding that there were 30 packages in one vial and 15 vials in total.

The other witness was afraid to phone the police due to fear of retribution from the boxSA国际影视传媒檚 owner or his network, but Sharpe didnSA国际影视传媒檛 hesitate.

SA国际影视传媒淲hy do I have to be scared?SA国际影视传媒� Sharpe asked rhetorically. SA国际影视传媒淚f you run around all your life being afraid of something, youSA国际影视传媒檙e never going to have a life, are you?SA国际影视传媒�

When the came to the Nova and found the contents of the box, they left two plainclothes officers in the lobby waiting for the boxSA国际影视传媒檚 owner to return, according to a witness. The hotel received a phone call suggesting it give up the box, according to a source.

In the afternoon, the Drum's reporter, who was also waiting in the lobby, witnessed a man come to the hotelSA国际影视传媒檚 reception and claim his friend had left early for work and he needed to pay for his room and get his belongings. The hotel allowed him to do so. Once he left, so did the plainclothes .

The issued a news release following the incident. As of press time, no arrest had been made.

Sharpe said the drug problem in Inuvik is large.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not a small issue and (someone) needs to get a hold of it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎s a town councillor, I consider that my duty, to try and protect the community. To me, Inuvik comes first and nothing else.SA国际影视传媒�

A witness to the scene expressed dismay to the Drum that the canSA国际影视传媒檛 seem to catch these drug dealers when everyone in town knows who they are.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have to have evidence,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe, defending the . SA国际影视传媒淭hey canSA国际影视传媒檛 just on a suspicion walk into somebodySA国际影视传媒檚 house and search it. They have to have evidence that personSA国际影视传媒檚 dealing drugs, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the hard part for them.SA国际影视传媒�

Sharpe encourages citizens to make use of CrimeStoppers and phone the if they encounter suspicious activity.

SA国际影视传媒淓veryday citizens just like me, they can just call the if they find a problem,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe. SA国际影视传媒淚 found a problem and I reported it. I would do it again too.SA国际影视传媒�