The trial of a Yellowknife man accused of bringing a dangerous form of fentanyl into the city, allegedly resulting in the non-fatal overdose of a woman in 2016, began on Monday.
Darcy Oake, 24, is charged with importing, trafficking and possessing for the purpose of trafficking furanylfentanyl, a less potent form of the powerful opioid fentanyl.
HeSA国际影视传媒檚 also accused of criminal negligence causing bodily harm SA国际影视传媒� a charge seldom seen in drug cases SA国际影视传媒� by providing the drug to a woman who later overdosed.
Following a rash of near fatal opioid overdoses over a 48-hour span in Yellowknife in November 2016 SA国际影视传媒� which prompted a public warning from the Department of Health and Social Services SA国际影视传媒� an investigation led to OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 Borden Drive home on Nov. 25, 2016.
Mounties found a bag containing a white substance.
The discovery of what officers believed to be fentanyl triggered a major response from police.
Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) unit, based outside of the territory, was called in to probe the property. Members donned hazmat suits and wore self-contained breathing systems as they searched the area.
In court on Monday, Oake pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking furanylfentanyl on Nov. 23, 2016 SA国际影视传媒� two days before raided his Borden Drive home.
Oake pleaded not guilty to all other charges.
Prosecutor Duane Praught said the Crown expects evidence to show that between Oct. 1, 2016 and Nov. 28, 2016, Oake imported furanylfentanyl on two occasions and that he subsequently gave the drug SA国际影视传媒� despite being SA国际影视传媒渨ell aware of the dangerSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� to the woman who overdosed, causing her bodily harm.
Prosecutors allege Oake ordered the drug online from Hong Kong over the SA国际影视传媒渄ark web,SA国际影视传媒� an encrypted pocket of the Internet often used for illegal purposes.
Parents testify at trial
Day-one of the judge-alone trial in NWT Supreme Court, which is expected to take several days, saw OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 parents take the stand to testify.
The court heard Oake himself overdosed at his home the day it was raided by .
OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 father, Dean Oake, appeared to wipe away tears as he recounted finding his son unresponsive in his bedroom on that morning. Oake was living with his father at the time. Oake said his son had been struggling with addiction, having overdosed just days before while walking his dog near their home.
OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 mother SA国际影视传媒� who was later questioned by Praught SA国际影视传媒� rushed to the scene, he testified. They both performed CPR on their son before paramedics and police arrived. OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 father told the court he gave police permission to search his sonSA国际影视传媒檚 bedroom, along with the garage, before going to the hospital.
SA国际影视传媒淭hank god he was alive,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The father of the accused testified he and OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 mother talked to their son about seeking addictions treatment just one day earlier.
Const. James Gallant, a Mountie involved in the search of Oake's bedroom, was taken to hospital after showing symptoms of exposure to the drug found at the Borden Drive residence, the court heard.
He was released shortly after.
SA国际影视传媒楪asps for airSA国际影视传媒�
Cpl. William Sturgeon, one of three officers involved in the initial search of OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 bedroom, testified Tuesday he located a bag containing a crystal-like substance in the accusedSA国际影视传媒檚 dresser near a digital scale, prompting the response from CLEAR.
Prior to the search, Sturgeon said he saw an unconscious Oake being brought into the hallway of the Borden Drive residence to be treated before he heard SA国际影视传媒済asps for air,SA国际影视传媒� from the accused.
The trial will resume on Thursday, when OakeSA国际影视传媒檚 alleged victim, the woman who overdosed, is expected to testify.
