Gangster and girlfriend busted in Lake Country

LAKE COUNTRY – The resurgence of an organized criminal gang in the Okanagan has been delivered a blow following the arrest of a long-time member of the Independent Soldiers and his girlfriend on gun and drug charges.

As a result of an investigation by the RCMP Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, which began in early 2014, police arrested Donahugh Fredrick McWhirter, 43, and his girlfriend Brittany Marie Stinn, 25, both from Lake Country, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.

The next day, members of the RCMP gang unit raided a home in the 3000-block of Jolinda Court in Lake Country, according to a media release.

Inside, police found a high-powered, prohibited handgun, a 20-gauge shotgun, an AR-style .22 calibre rifle, assorted ammunition, a crossbow and drug paraphernalia. The cops also found three big boxes of new clothing with the Independent Soldiers logo.

RCMP say the investigation began with a tip about a gang member allegedly recruiting new members for a “planned resurgence of the notorious gang.” The goal of the investigation was to target the suspected drug, violence and weapon-related offences and disrupt plans to revive the gang.

Police say they made several drug seizures during the investigation including the raid at the house on Jolinda Court:

– 18.6 grams of cocaine,
– 500.6 grams of methamphetamine,
– 501.7 grams of MDMA powder,
– 5595 ecstasy pills,
– 247.2 grams of “Molly” (MDMA)
– Various steroid vials and pills including Gtropin, Arimidex, Anavar, Equipose, Sustanon, Winstrol, Dbol, Dynamite and TNT Testosterone blend.

McWhirter and Stinn are facing trafficking along with drug and weapons charges. They have been released from custody and will be back before the judge on Feb. 26, 2015 at the Kelowna courthouse.

“This investigation highlights the effective collaboration between the Special Enforcement Unit and various policing units throughout British Columbia to quickly identify and disrupt emerging gang-related threats,” gang unit spokesperson Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says in the media release. “Gang members thrive on creating fear and chaos in communities.”

“By targeting the Independent Soldiers at the beginning of a planned resurgence we have been able to disrupt their activities.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.