LPS Chief Shahin Mahdizadeh (Lethbridge News Now)

By Canadian Press

Fraud Investigation

No criminal charges coming in Lethbridge Supervised Consumption Site investigation

Dec 22, 2020 | 12:42 PM

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Police say there will be no criminal charges involving a supervised drug consumption site in Lethbridge that closed after the province alleged financial problems.

The Lethbridge Police Service says prosecutors supported its finding and determined there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction.

Alberta’s United Conservative government, citing an audit that revealed financial irregularities, pulled its funding from ARCHES in Lethbridge in July.

A report by accounting firm Deloitte commissioned by the province said $13,000 had been used for parties, staff retreats and gift cards, and thousands more was spent on travel, including $4,300 for a manager to attend a conference in Portugal.

It also said $1.6 million was unaccounted for at the non-profit organization.

Police say they uncovered records which accounted for that funding.

(The Canadian Press)