Young Street house fire investigation leads to drug, weapons arrests

What started as a house fire in Winnipeg's West End turned into a drug investigation that led to the arrest of two adults and two teenage boys on dozens of charges.

Emergency crews were called to the two-storey house in the 500 block of Young Street around 4 a.m. on July 16 and found flames and smoke billowing from the windows.

• 4 people escape from house fire on Young Street

Four people a man, woman and two boys who escaped the firewere taken to hospital and were all treated and eventually released. Damages are estimated at $105,000.

Emergency personnel who were dealing with the house fire found materials that prompted a separate investigation into weapons and drugs, Const. Rob Carver said Friday.

"They certainly found enough evidence in plain sight that was sufficient to allow investigators to begin an investigation, ultimately execute a search warrant and proceed with a fairly detailed and lengthy investigation," he said.

Carver confirmed that the people who were taken to hospital in connection with in the house fire were later arrested on drug and weapons charges.

A 20-year-old woman and two boys, age 16 and 17, were arrested the day after the fire. They each face 11 firearms-related charges and one count each of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of property obtained by crime.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Thursday and charged with 26 firearms offences, along with one count each of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of property obtained by crime.

As for the house fire, Carver said investigators have determined it was arson. He could not say if it was gang-related. No arrests have been made to date.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the arson unit at (204) 986-6813, while anyone with information that could help police in the drug and weapons investigation is asked to call them at (204) 986-6668.

People can also call Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477) about either investigation.