Teens arrested for alleged drug dealing near Hamilton men’s shelter

Two teenagers were arrested this week after Hamilton Police say they were caught dealing drugs outside a downtown men’s shelter.

Undercover officers were in patrol near  York Boulevard and Bay Street right in front of First Ontario Centre on Aug. 21. The officers reported they saw a pair of teenagers dealing drugs and intentionally targeting residents of the Salvation Army Hamilton Booth Centre, a homeless shelter.

When the officers approached the pair, the teens ran off. They managed to arrest the pair after a brief chase. Police say the boys were carrying fentanyl, crystal meth and hydromorphone pills. Hydromorphone is a potent opioid for acute chronic pain, mostly in cancer patients.

In total, the drugs have a street value of about $8,500. Investigators determined one of the teens was working as a lookout. He was later released. The other boy, 16, faces several charges including;

• three counts of drug possession for traffic
• possession of criminal proceeds, and
• failure to comply with a court order

Anyone with information can call police HEAT team at 905-540-5606 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).