Police: Drug suspects blocked officers from providing medical attention

Four people face charges after allegedly attempting to block Thunder Bay police officers from providing emergency medical attention to a person suffering from an apparent drug overdose.

The incident happened early Tuesday morning at a home in the 200 block of Manitou Street. According to a news release from the Thunder Bay Police Service, several occupants of the home attempted to block police efforts and were arrested.

The person who had suffered from the apparent overdose was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, and has since been released.

Police say further investigation found that suspected drug-trafficking activity was taking place in the home, and say there was "evidence that a significant quantity of suspected cocaine had been recently destroyed."

The four people arrested include a man and woman from Thunder Bay, a man from Toronto, and a man from London, Ont. They are all charged with obstructing a police officer, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by a crime under $5,000. The Thunder Bay woman also faces a charge of failure to comply with a release order, while the Thunder Bay man also faces a charge of breach of probation.

The four appeared in bail court Tuesday and were remanded into custody.