North Bay drug investigation leads to heavy police presence on Rose Avenue

A large police presence descended on the area of North Bay’s Rose Avenue on Friday as investigators believed a home was being used to produce illegal drugs.

Police in North Bay are alerting the public Friday evening to expect a heavy police presence in the 700 block of Rose Avenue as part of an active drug investigation.

City police, along with the RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police, executed a search warrant at a residence in the area as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

“Police have reason to believe the residence was being used to produce illegal narcotics,” North Bay police said in a news release Friday.

“In order to ensure the safety of other residents in the neighbourhood, the North Bay Fire and Emergency Services assisted police in evacuating nearby residences. The North Bay Fire and Emergency Services’ Hazardous Materials Response Team is assisting in clearing the residence of any dangerous substances that may be present.”

Rose Avenue was closed between Douglas Street and Morin Street “to ensure public safety,” the release said.

It reopened Friday evening around 7:40.

“Police believe there is no immediate threat to the public but are taking all necessary and appropriate precautions, because of the likely presence of dangerous substances in the residence.”

Full details of any arrests made as part of this investigation, including any charges laid, will be provided in the coming days, after the investigation concludes.