CALGARY – Fifty-five-year-old Dwayne Kenneth Price, a firefighter with 30 years of experience with the Calgary Fire Department, had drug charges against him withdrawn Monday morning. The Crown cited “insufficient evidence” in withdrawing the charges.
Price, who’s been suspended with pay, was arrested March 11 and charged with production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Price’s lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, said “he was completely devastated, and was adamant from day one he was innocent.”
Fifty-two-year-old Heidy Thao Doan of Calgary was also arrested in March and charged with the same offences in the case; the charges against her were also withdrawn later Monday morning.
The pair were charged after the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) discovered an illegal operation at 75 Millside Road S.W. on Jan. 29.
Investigators said about 400 plants were seized, enough to produce an estimated $500,000 worth of marijuana.
At the time ALERT said it appeared both suspects at were living at the residence, “at least on varying levels…frequenting the home.” The person listed as the home owner, Michelle Nguyen, was not charged in the investigation.
Iovinelli said Price was in a relationship with Doan, who had a license to grow pot as she was battling cancer. The two have had a no contact order since the arrests were made.
Iovinelli said Price could be back at work with CFD this week, and should go back to his former position.
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