District RCMP fraud investigation identifies 32 victims

June 12, 2025, Colchester County, Nova
Scotia… Additional
victims come forward and more charges have been laid in Colchester County
District RCMP fraud investigation.In early March, Colchester County
District RCMP charged a man with Fraud Over $5000 and Possession of Property
Obtained by Crime Over $5000. The man is believed to engage in high-pressure
sale tactics to convince people to pay for home security system monitoring and
upgrades. Victims are convinced to make payments via cash, e-transfers, or
cheques, and do not receive the goods and services they paid
for.At that time, investigators had
identified 15 victims and believed there were others. On March 13 the Nova
Scotia RCMP published a news release about the incidents and resulting charges,
Ongoing fraud investigation results in charges by
Colchester County District RCMP | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Between that date and May 6, an additional 17 victims came forward.
Investigators resubmitted the Fraud
and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime charges to include a total of 32
victims.On June 3, Colchester County District RCMP responded to a report that Brian Dethridge, 54, of Truro, breached his
release conditions by engaging in the sale of home security system monitoring
and upgrades. On June 4, Colchester County District RCMP arrested and charged Detheridge with Failure to Comply With Undertaking (three counts). He appeared in Truro Provincial Court and was released on strict conditions. I commend these victims and others
who’ve come forward to police because I know that victims of frauds can feel
awkward or embarrassed and are hesitant to report their experience as a result,”
says Cpl. Terry Brown, Community Action Team leader. “It’s important for victims
to know, we will follow up on their report.”Anyone who has been a victim of this
fraud and anyone who has information about it is asked to contact Colchester
County District RCMP at 902-893-6820, or the local police. To remain anonymous,
contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by
submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips
app.

For more information about common
frauds and how to protect yourself: Canadian Anti-Fraud
Centre.

File #s 2025-767494, 2025-585384,
2025-606928

June 10, 2025, East Preston, Nova Scotia… The RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division is seeking information in relation to shots fired in East Preston.

Yesterday, at approximately 9:40 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a report of shots fired in the 200 block of Brooks Dr. The initial investigation indicates that occupants of two vehicles travelling east exchanged gun fire.

RCMP officers have not received reports of injuries.

Brooks Dr. was closed for several hours to allow officers to gather evidence. Currently, there’s no description of the vehicles involved.

The investigation, led by the RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the RCMP Forensic Identification Section, is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

File #: 25-81682

Police are warning of a dangerous drug combination seized during a traffic stop in Dartmouth in April.

On April 20 at approximately 3:30 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop of an impaired driver near Sea King Drive and Albro Lake Road in Dartmouth. The vehicle was seized and searched and a quantity of an unknown substance was located.

The substance is described as grey/green in colour and in a grainy powder form. It was sent to Health Canada for identification.

This week, Health Canada confirmed that Metonitazene, a potent synthetic opioid, was detected in the substance. Fentanyl, Caffeine and Dimethlsulphone were also detected.

This combination of drugs is dangerous and may put users more at risk of an overdose. Even handling these substances can be risky without taking proper precautions.

Those experiencing an overdose should be administered Naloxone to buy time to seek medical assistance. Naloxone kits are available free of charge through the Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone Program. Information on the program and where to get a kit is available at Nova Scotia Health, Take Home Naloxone Program .

25-54468

Police have charged a Dartmouth man with child exploitation and firearms offences.

On May 21, information was received from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a 10-year-old girl in the United States was in correspondence with a Canadian male believed to be an adult.

Communication between the two began in January 2025 and continued over various social media platforms, including Slowly and Snapchat. The man presented himself as a 15-year-old boy and the conversations included inappropriate sexual content. He also mailed the girl handwritten letters and gifts. 

The Halifax Integrated Child Exploitation Unit worked closely with the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Wisconsin to further the investigation.

On June 5, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Gaston Road in Dartmouth where electronic devices and firearms were seized. The suspect was arrested without incident.

John Aaron Shute, 42, has been remanded into custody. He will be scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial court at a later date to face charges of:

• Luring a child under 16
• Making child pornography
• Possession of child pornography
• Failure to comply with order
• Breach of probation order in relation to children (x2)
• Firearms related offences (x5)

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be laid.

Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.

There is no statute of limitation on sexual assaults. Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault is encouraged to contact police. Victims will be treated with compassion, dignity and respect throughout the entire investigative process.

25-71397

 Police are investigating a child being approached by a stranger in Dartmouth.

 On Saturday, May 31, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., a 6-year-old child was approached by an unknown man on Bow Street in Dartmouth. The man offered the child candy and a drive. The child refused and ran into his home.

 The driver is described as a white man, approximately 45 to 55-years-old, balding black hair and no facial hair. The man was driving a beige convertible. At the time of the incident, the vehicle’s roof was down. 

The incident was reported to police yesterday. 

 Anyone with information or video from the area of Bow Street and Marcs Way between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on May 31 is asked to call police at 902-490-5020. 

 Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.

25-78255

On Wednesday, May 21st, 2025, at approximately 02:55 hours police were dispatched to 20 Beech Street, North Sydney, NS for a report of a residential structure fire. Dispatch advised from the information they received everyone was out of the apartment complex.

Upon arrival, at approximately 03:05 hours, police observed the residence fully engulfed. Police located one of the tenants standing outside of her vehicle parked near the intersection of Victoria/Beech. tenant advised the following:

• “I smelled smoke that’s what woke me up”
• “The other tenant was screaming to Aaron to help her out”
• Aaron Maxwell lives in the apartment in the back
• There are three units total
• “Don’t know the other tenants, but did see them get out of the house”
• The female jumped out of the upstairs window (18 Beech) at the front of the house, and Aaron caught her
• tenant got both her children and ran out of the house
• Once out of the residence, tenant  put her children in her vehicle, and drove it out of the driveway
• Tenant didn’t know where the other tenants went after that

     Deputy Fire Marshall attended scene and noted it as a suspicious fire.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Cape Breton Regional Police-5060. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

May 28, 2025, Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia… As the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues, the RCMP is appealing to the public for additional video footage.

Investigators have collected hours of video from the areas surrounding Lansdowne Station.

“Based on the details we’ve gathered so far, we’ve confirmed that Lilly and Jack were observed in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1,” says Cpl. Sandy Matharu, Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit. “We’re now asking anyone who has dashcam footage or video along Gairloch Rd. between 12 p.m. on April 28 and 12 p.m. on May 2 to contact us.”

Investigators remain committed to exploring all possibilities surrounding the children’s disappearance. To date, more than 355 tips have been received and are being followed up on. RCMP officers have also formally interviewed over 50 people, with more interviews planned in the coming days.

Investigative work is ongoing following a large-scale ground and air search that began immediately after the children were reported missing on May 2. Hundreds of searchers, multiple dogs, a variety of drones, an underwater recovery team and several aircraft scoured a heavily wooded 5.5 square kilometre area before search efforts were scaled back on May 7. Additional searches took place on May 8, May 9, May 17 and May 18. Any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation.

“RCMP officers from various teams are fully engaged in finding out what happened to Lilly and Jack, and we’re using all tools and resources to determine the circumstances of their disappearance,” says Cpl. Matharu. “We understand people’s desire for answers and updates. However, as this is an active investigation, we’re unable to discuss details of our ongoing work.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack, or who has video footage to share with police, is asked to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

File #: 2025-583775

May 28, 2025, Bay St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia… Victoria County District RCMP is investigating a break and enter in Bay St. Lawrence involving the theft of firearms.

On April 15, Victoria County District RCMP received a report of a break and enter believed to have occurred the day before at an unoccupied seasonal property on Bay St. Lawrence Rd. Through the investigation, officers determined that three firearms, a 12-gauge shotgun, 30-30 rifle and 303 rifle, were among the items taken. The guns were stored in a locked cabinet, which was damaged in the incident, and all included trigger locks.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about this incident or the whereabouts of the firearms to contact Ingonish Beach RCMP Detachment at 902-285-2021. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

File # 2025-496646

May 27, 2025, Hebron, Nova Scotia… Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment is seeking information in relation to shots fired in Hebron.

On May 27 at approximately 2:40 a.m., Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment received a report of shots fired at a residence on Greenville Rd. The incident resulted in damage to the home.

There were no reports of injuries.

As part of the ongoing investigation, officers would like to hear from anyone with surveillance video or doorbell cameras showing Hwy. 1 (south from Greenville Rd.) and Main St. in Yarmouth between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on May 27. The investigation is being led by Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment with support from the RCMP Forensic Identification Section and RCMP Police Dog Services.

Anyone with information about this incident or video surveillance is asked to contact police at 902-742-9106. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

File #: 2025-722573

Today marks the 20-year anniversary of the murder of Leon Anthony Adams and homicide investigators in the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate the case.

At 4:20 a.m. on May 22, 2005, police responded to a report of an injured person in a residence at 6025 Lady Hammond Road in Halifax. Upon arrival, they discovered Leon lying in a hallway suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced deceased. 

The investigation has revealed that Leon had been home earlier in the evening on May 21, 2005. It’s believed that he left the residence for a brief period sometime after midnight before returning to his home, where he was shot.

Investigators believe that there are people who have information that could help solve his murder. With the passage of time, investigators encourage them to do the right thing and come forward with what they know. It is never too late to come forward and the smallest piece of information may be just what is needed to progress the investigation.

Investigators ask anyone with information about Leon’s murder to contact police at 902-490-5020.

Leon’s case is part of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program which offers cash rewards of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for specified major unsolved crimes. Callers must contact the Rewards Program at 1-888-710-9090, must provide their name and contact information, and may be called to testify in court. All calls will be recorded. The amount of the award will be based on the investigative value of the information provided.