Police locate guns and drugs after assisting Child & Family Services

On February 16, 2026, the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) received a report of a suicidal person at a residence with firearms on Center Road in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation.

Police attended the location and found that the call was unfounded. Because of the nature of the initial call, Sandy Bay Child & Family Services were also on scene when a firearm was observed. Police also saw drug paraphernalia that indicated potential drug trafficking. Police secured the residence and obtained a search warrant. Once the search warrant was executed, officers located and seized 4 grams of cocaine, 116 grams of methamphetamine along with items related to drug trafficking. One firearm was also located and seized.

Joseph William Desmarais (48) of Sandy Bay Ojibway Nation and arrested and charged with the following offences:



·       Unsafe storage of a firearm X2

·       Unauthorized possession of a firearm

·       Possession of a firearm while unauthorized

·       Possession of a prohibited weapon while unauthorized

·       Possession of a weapon while prohibited

·       Possession for the purposes of trafficking – Cocaine

·       Possession for the purposes of trafficking – methamphetamine

·       Unauthorized Possession of a restricted weapon

·       Possession of a weapon dangerous to public

Desmarais was held in custody.

If you have any information that could assist investigators, don't hesitate to contact MFNPS Sandy Bay First Nation Detachment at 204-843-7705 or the MFNPS TIPS line anonymously at 1-833-978-0048 or email TIPS@mfnp.ca. The MFNP TIPS line is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year, and monitored regularly.