Semi-conscious driver found in Surrey with drugs and stolen shotgun

A recent check of a semi-conscious man in a vehicle resulted in the seizure of drugs, cash and a stolen shotgun in Surrey’s Whalley area.

On Wednesday, January 20 at 8:15 a.m., a Surrey RCMP frontline officer was approached by a concerned citizen regarding a semi-conscious driver who was parked in a running vehicle in the 10300-block of King George Boulevard. While checking on the well-being of the driver, the officer noted signs of possible drug or alcohol consumption and launched an impaired investigation.

The officer also observed open alcohol and suspected drugs inside the vehicle. The driver was subsequently arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking and refusing to comply with a breath demand. Officers took the driver to a local hospital for medical attention, before taking him into police custody.

As the investigation progressed, the vehicle was searched and officers located approximately 21 grams of suspected cocaine, 68 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately $1,400 cash, a stolen shotgun, and ammunition.  

The driver was held in custody and, on Thursday, January 21, 36-year-old Ian Langthorne was charged with six offences related to the illegal possession of a firearm, drug trafficking, and impaired driving.

“We are grateful to the concerned citizen who flagged down the officer. As a result of their actions, officers were able to get a significant amount of drugs and a stolen gun off the streets, and put a stop to what could have been a dangerous situation on our roads,” said Cpl. Joanie Sidhu, Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer. “Our frontline officers are trained in quickly adapting their response to changing circumstances. In this case, a check well-being turned into a much bigger investigation.”  

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.