On March 21, 2025 at 10:20 a.m., a plainclothed Belleville police officer was in the city’s west end conducting an unrelated bail compliance check. While doing so, the officer observed a vehicle known to them and the owner in the back seat. The owner was known to be on house arrest conditions. The officer followed the vehicle and observed the driver as a person they know to be a prohibited driver. The officer requested the assistance of uniform patrol in stopping the vehicle. During the traffic stop, officers located suspected cocaine in the vehicle. As a result, all four of the vehicle’s occupants were arrested without incident. Following the police investigation, police charged the following people:
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Cecil Merkley, 31 years old of Belleville, was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance, breach of probation, driving while disqualified and numerous Highway Traffic Act offences.
Tyler Watson, 39 years old of no fixed address, was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance and breach of probation.
- Lorri Betts, 57 years old of Belleville, was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance and two counts of breach of probation.
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Mary Hennick, 36 years old of Belleville was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance and numerous Highway Traffic Act offences.
Merkley, Watson and Betts were all released on an undertaking. Hennick was held for a bail hearing.
