A known gang associate has been arrested as part of a bust outside of Fairview. The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team searched a rural home in the early morning hours of May 1st.
35 year old Robert Cletus Traverse was armed and barricaded himself inside for three hours before surrendering. He has an extensive history with police and is allegedly connected to gangs that operate out of the BC lower mainland. Traverse is wanted on warrants out of that province, Alberta and Newfoundland and has been charged with 25 counts related to drugs, guns, and stolen property.
Inspector Chad Coles says ALERT worked with several agencies on the seizure, including RCMP from Fairview, Peace River, McLennan, Grande Prairie, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B-C.
“To develop information or gather information that Traverse was operating out of this area of the province. Traverse is an individual who is well known to police and has warrants in various jurisdictions across the country.”
An assortment of firearms, and an estimated $50,000 worth of stolen property were found on the property, along with small amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl. It’s believed more drugs were destroyed before police could seize them.
In total, nine guns and five prohibited high-capacity firearm magazines were seized, along with an improvised explosive device and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Officers also found a stolen trailer, ATV, pickup truck and SUV, along with $3,805 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime.
Traverse already has a lifetime firearms prohibition. Three of the guns has their serial numbers defaced, including a restricted AR15 semi-automatic carbine.
Five other people have been arrested and charged with a combined 92 offences: 28 year old Stephanie Catherine Payou, 32 year old David Lee Williams, 26 year old Charles Victor Morris, 34 year old Dean Allen Stafford, and 34 year old Tyler Allen Metz.