Catch and release pattern results in multiple charges
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 14, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A Lethbridge man who was arrested in March for alleged drug and weapon offences, released shortly afterward, then arrested again earlier this month and charged with more drug offences, has been released again.
Robert Joseph Simmer, 47, who attended provincial court Thursday by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, was released on $1,500 bail, with conditions that he report by phone to the police station every Friday, abide by a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. every day, reside at a specific northside residence or as otherwise approved by the court, and not possess any weapons.
Zimmer was arrested March 30 following a short-term police investigation into drug trafficking at various locations downtown frequented by the city’s vulnerable population. After witnessing drug-related activity, police arrested one man and searched a residence in the 500 block of 12 Street North where they seized a firearm, more than $24,000 in cash, stolen property and $5,200 worth of drugs, including 41.44 grams of methamphetamine, 13.4 grams of fentanyl and smaller amounts of cocaine and codeine pills.
Zimmer is charged with two counts each of drug possession and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, and single counts of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of an identity document, possession of a firearm obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.Â
Zimmer was released on those charges following a judicial interim release hearing and ordered to attend court on April 21, but on that date he failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Zimmer was arrested on outstanding warrants on May 4 in the 500 block of 12 Street North. During a search of the property police seized 20.4 grams of fentanyl and 4.5 grams of methamphetamine worth about $4,300, as well as $1,270 in proceeds of crime and two stolen bicycles worth $3,500.
The accused is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of stolen property (proceeds of crime) under $5,000, and breach of a release order.
Zimmer, who was assisted by duty counsel during his bail hearing Thursday, is scheduled to return to court June 9.
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This is the perfect example of just how broken our system is!
Have we forgotten that Fentanyl kills people everyday in this province, more than violent crimes, impaired driving or any crime for that matter, yet this person is allowed back out after he proved that he continued to be a threat to society by ignoring all court orders and continuing to traffic in the very drugs he was chargedwith and within several weeks is charged again with the same drugs, drugs that are killing thousands a year in this country!
This is not the fault of the police! They are doing their job! Politicians who spend most of their time finding dirt to bring down the other parties so they can be in power and even tearing apart each other in their own parties are the ones to blame! They are the ones that are supposed to be putting in place legislation that protects the public, the serves justice to the people and rehabilitates the criminals.
The judicial and penal systems are a complete joke and if the politicians spent the time putting forth effective legislation that would combat the crisis we are in, the taxpayer would save billions of their hard earned tax dollars!
This is utterly shameful and shows just how poor judgement politicians today have! They only think of themselves and gaining power and neglect the electors who have to pay for their lack of good judgement!
This scumbag has zero respect for the law and this proves it, yet he is back on the street, probably still dealing drugs only doing it more covertly!
This is disgusting! Lethbridge taxpayers alone are paying millions every year for this drug crisis that has proven that harm reduction only feeds the problem and firm policing and penalties, which include incarceration and effective drug courts and long term treatment programs that do work, is what we need.
Instead, we see political parties at all levels attacking each other within and trying to bring down governments using insurrectionistss and unrest!
No wonder there are so many that turn to drugs!!!! There just is no good example being set by our leaders!
as hard as this guy tries to be enterprsing, he is greatly lacking relative to the likes of financial institutions, mining cos, chemical and pharms in the significant harm they manage to bring to the planet.