Acadia Broadcasting File Photo

You could call it something of a two for one bust.

Thunder Bay Police executing a search warrant at a James Street North home early Thursday morning, not only seized cocaine, cash and drug trafficking equipment, but also arrested a man wanted for second degree murder in connection to the 2022 death of a Sioux Lookout man.

The warrant was obtained as part of ongoing drug trafficking from the address.

Three people were taken into custody.

A 19 year old Thunder Bay man and a 17 year old male from Oshawa each face the following charges:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Meanwhile a 22 year old man, of no fixed address has bee charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking in Schedule 1 Substance – Cocaine x 2
• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

He is also expected to face an additional charge of second degree murder in connection to the June 2022 murder of 19 year old Tyrese Belmore from Sioux Lookout.

On June 1st last year Belmore was admitted to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with serious injuries just before 3:00 a.m., however he later succumbed to those injuries.

Members of the Major Crimes and Forensic Identification Units became involved in the investigation which brought them to two addresses one on Shipley Street the other on Brock Street East.

The continued investigation led to the suspect being identified.

Police say the search of the James Street North home and the murder investigation were two unrelated investigations.

All three appeared in court Thursday and were remanded into custody.