By EverythingGP Staff

La Crete man charged

Human trafficking of minor, drugs charges laid in High Level investigation

Jun 3, 2020 | 11:57 AM

A La Crete man is facing human trafficking charges after a series of incidents involving a minor in High Level.

The first incident occurred on Tuesday, May 26, when a Peace Officer with the Town of High Level pulled over a vehicle within town limits for driving in a careless manner, as well as for several equipment violations.

After approaching the vehicle, the Peace Officer called in High Level RCMP to assist as there were several indications of criminal activity. The male driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene, while an adult and youth passenger were taken to hospital due to health concerns.

The two individuals were later released from hospital, and were provided with food and shelter, and transportation arrangements back to their home community and families were made by authorities.

From the initial investigation, RCMP obtained a search warrant of the stopped vehicle. The search then led to charges against the driver, 30-year-old Michael John Neufeld of La Crete. Those charges include:

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• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (morphine)
• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (heroin)
• Possession of a controlled substance (morphine)
• Possession of a controlled substance (heroin)
• Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
• Human trafficking of a minor/person under the age of 18

Neufeld was later released from police custody following a judicial interim hearing on May 27, with conditions that included having no contact with minors.

Then on May 28, Peace Officers once again contacted High Level RCMP as the adult and youth who were slated to return home did not appear for their scheduled transport home.

That afternoon, the missing adult was located safely by authorities, where it was discovered that the minor had returned into the custody of Neufeld. It wasn’t until May 29 that authorities located Neufeld in High Level and brought him into custody without incident.

After Neufeld was brought into custody, another vehicle was stopped in relation to Neufeld’s arrest, where two more individuals were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act for the unlawful sale of cannabis. Weapons and drug paraphernalia were also discovered in the search.

Police say from that search, a 28-year-old man from Grande Prairie has charges pending against him under the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act.

Following the arrests, police were led to a camper-trailer south of High Level soon afterwards, where the missing youth was found. The minor is now receiving on going-assistance and treatment at a safe location.

Neufeld is now in police custody, where he is facing additional charges of human trafficking of a minor and two counts of failure to comply with conditions of a release order.

He is scheduled to appear in High Level Provincial Court on June 8 for a bail hearing.