The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs obtained a court order against the owner of 377 4 Street NW that gives investigators the authority to close the property for 90 days, starting at noon on May 22. Any tenancy agreement or lease of any tenant of the property is terminated effective that date.
The community safety order, obtained in Court of King’s Bench, bars people from the property until the closure period ends on Aug. 20. The property will be boarded up, fenced and all the locks will be changed. SCAN unit members will continue to monitor the property for any activity while their investigation remains ongoing.
“Drug dealers are not welcome in this province. Once again, the SCAN unit has played a crucial role in addressing a dangerous property and ensuring the safety of Albertans and their communities. The southern Alberta SCAN team is providing residents with the peace of mind they deserve and I commend them for their hard work to make Alberta a safer place.”
“The southern Alberta SCAN team’s close partnership with the Medicine Hat Police Service is essential to our success in dealing with long-standing problem properties like this one. SCAN’s work has a positive impact on the lives of Albertans which drives our teams’ efforts to ensure law-abiding residents feel safe wherever they live.”
“The Medicine Hat Police Service appreciates the invaluable assistance of the southern Alberta SCAN unit in addressing the persistent concerns surrounding this problem property. Together, we have taken significant action towards fostering a safer community.”
The Alberta Sheriffs work with other law enforcement agencies to shut down properties being used for illegal activities. The SCAN unit operates under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which uses legal sanctions and court orders to hold owners accountable for illegal activity happening on their property.
Since its inception in 2008, Alberta’s SCAN unit has investigated more than 9,000 properties and issued about 117 community safety orders. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop the illegal activity on their property.
Quick facts
- The SCAN unit received four complaints regarding the property since August 2021.
- Between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 6, 2023, the Medicine Hat Police Service attended the property 49 times for various types of calls for service.
- The southern Alberta SCAN unit was announced on Nov. 15, 2023, with a new team of six investigators from the Alberta Sheriffs based in Lethbridge. This supports quicker responses and resolutions to complaints throughout southern Alberta, including Medicine Hat.
Related information
- Report a suspicious property
- Sheriffs close drug house in Lethbridge (Jan. 10, 2024)
- New sheriff team established in southern Alberta (Nov. 15, 2023)
Media Availability
Insp. Mike Dirkson of the SCAN unit and Chief Al Murphy of the Medicine Hat Police Service will be available between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for on-camera interviews at 377 4 Street NW in Medicine Hat.