If a Chatham man charged in connection to allegedly being in possession of more than $2.6 million worth of opioids and other drugs wants bail, it will be up to him to convince the court.
Jonathan Toornstra, 35, made a brief appearance via video in a Chatham courtroom on Monday. He is facing 18 drug and weapon-related charges after Chatham-Kent police made the largest drug bust in the municipality’s history on the evening of April 10 after raiding an apartment.
Officers seized cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, hydromophone, GHB, ecstasy, morphine and fentanyl, along with an electronic digital scale, packaging materials, and $52,000 in Canadian currency. A 9mm handgun and ammunition were also seized in the raid.
Federal prosecutor Tim Mathany told the court Toornstra is in a “reverse onus position to show cause why he should be released (on bail)” since the drug charges against him are a straight indictable office,
He added the Crown will not be consenting to Toornstra’s release in this matter.
Typically, the Crown has the responsibility of providing reasons why an accused should not be granted bail when facing charges that are before the court.
Toornstra told the court he hasn’t had a chance to retain a lawyer yet and asked for the matter to be put over until Thursday.
He scheduled to appear via video in bail court at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
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