2025-03-06 Correction and an update: The previous news release stated incorrect information concerning the date of release for two involved individuals.
Mr. Munch, Mr. Suffesick and Ms. Handel were all held for their first court appearance on February 28, 2025. On February 28, 2025, Mr. Munch was remanded on his Yukon charges until March 5, 2025, at which time he was further detained until his next court appearance on April 2, 2025 at 9:00 am. Mr. Munch has been transported to Fort St. John to speak to his British Columbia court matters.
Mr. Suffesick was remanded in custody until March 4, 2025, at which time he was further detained until his next court appearance on March 6, 2025 at 10:00 am.
Ms. Handel was remanded in custody until March 4, 2025, at which time she was released on a release order with conditions.
Original release: 2025-02-28
On February 27, 2025 police officers of the Yukon Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) arrested 48-year-old British Columbia resident, Christopher Munch, as he was wanted on warrants of arrest issued in the province of British Columbia. As a result of their investigation, CRU also seized drugs, cash, trafficking paraphernalia and a firearm.
On February 27 at approximately 5:30 pm, a member of the Crime Reduction Unit observed Mr. Munch exit a vehicle and enter a business in the Whitehorse downtown area; it was known to the officer that Mr. Munch was wanted on two warrants. Mr. Munch was arrested without incident, along with another male and female who were in the same vehicle. The vehicle was subsequently searched as part of the ongoing investigation and officers discovered a quantity of what is believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine along with money and other items known to be used in the trafficking of illegal drugs such as scales and cell phones. A prohibited firearm was also found inside the vehicle.
Mr. Munch, along with 37-year-old Robert Suffesick and 45-year-old Nadine Handel, both of Watson Lake, were charged with the following offences:
Three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine, codeine and methamphetamine);
Possess a loaded prohibited firearm;
Possession of property obtained by crime.
Additionally, Mr. Munch was charged with two counts of fail to comply with a release order.
Mr. Suffesick and Ms. Handel appeared in court on February 28 and were released on conditions, while Mr. Munch was held in custody and his next court appearance is March 5 in Whitehorse.