Charges dropped against Sarnia trio in $12K cocaine seizure, woman still charged in bat attack

Charges dropped against Sarnia trio in 12K cocaine seizure woman

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The vice unit and emergency response team searched a home in the 100 block of Walnut Avenue South, near Kathleen Avenue, about 1 pm Jan. 10 and found about $11,500 in drugs, including 94 grams of powder cocaine and nearly two grams of crack cocaine, along with $1,600 in cash and drug-trafficking paraphernalia, Sarnia police said at the time.

Three Sarnia residents in the home – April Rathmell, 43, Patrick Reid, 40, and Jason Mitchell, 42 – were charged with possessing cocaine for trafficking and possessing stolen property, police said.

Those charges were dropped recently at the request of the federal prosecutor. No reason was given in court.

April Rathmell (Facebook)

Rathmell, though, still faces charges after police said a man was attacked with a baseball bat and claw hammer in the same area about two months later.

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Officers were called to the Walnut South and Kathleen avenues area around 3 pm March 29 about a 28-year-old man with facial injuries. Investigation revealed the man had fought with another man over illegal drugs in a Kathleen Avenue home, police said.

“A female present at that location then joined the fray, striking the (man) in the face multiple times with a claw hammer,” police said.

Sarnia police
Sarnia police issued this photo after they said a 28-year-old man needed 25 stitches to close a large gash on his lip after an attack with a claw hammer and a baseball bat on March 29. (Sarnia police)

The woman was arrested nearby while the injured man was taken to hospital, where he required 25 stitches to close a large gash on his upper lip, police said.

Rathmell is charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm, police said. She’s due back in court Thursday.

Another man was arrested three days later, but his charges are no longer before the courts, records show.

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