**** RCMP Media Release
UPDATE: West Hants District RCMP lay more charges in stolen property investigation
West Hants District RCMP has laid additional charges against a man, and charged a second man, with stolen property offences.
On June 26, 2022, West Hants District RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit, West Hants District RCMP General Investigation Section, Valley Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit, and RCMP Police Dog Services, executed a search warrant at a property on Hwy. 215 in Lower Burlington. A 31-year-old man was safely arrested at the scene. During the search police seized a number of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Dirt Bikes, Side-by-Sides, and several firearms.
At the time, Joseph Philip Michael Hope, 31, of Lower Burlington, was charged with the following:
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm;
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm Knowing it’s Possession is Unauthorized;
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (5 counts);
- Unsafe Storage of a Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm with a Tampered Serial Number
Hope was initially remanded into custody and he was later released by the court on conditions.
Since the initial arrest, West Hants District RCMP has continued with their investigation and on August 18, 2022, Hope was again arrested for new offences. He was later released on conditions and will be facing additional charges of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Trafficking of Property Obtained by Crime. He will appear in Windsor Provincial Court on October 18, 2022.
On August 24, 2022, West Hants District RCMP also arrested a 45-year-old man in relation to this investigation. The man was also wanted on a province-wide arrest warrant, for an unrelated matter. The man was held in custody overnight.
Andrew Scott Barker, 45, of Windsor, has been charged with the following:
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle;
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (2 counts);
- Trafficking of Property Obtained by Crime (2 counts);
- Failure to Comply with Conditions of a Release Order
Barker appeared in Kentville Provincial Court yesterday and was remanded into custody. He will appear in Windsor Provincial Court today.
