In December of 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Street Crime Detectives assigned to 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) initiated an investigation into an individual not complying with the conditions of his release order.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 Street Crime Detectives assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) and 2 District arrested the suspect Joshua SCHOLTENS (30 years). He was charged with the following criminal offence:
- Fail to Comply with Release Order
Upon his arrest detectives formed grounds that SCHOLTENS was trafficking in illegal drugs. As a result, detectives received judicial authorization to execute a search warrant on a St. Catharines residence. Detectives located and seized the following:
- 55.4 grams of Cocaine with an estimated street value of $5540
- 587.3 grams of Psilocybin with an estimated street value of $5873
- 1.8 grams of Crystal Methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $180
- $710 in Canadian Currency
Joshua SCHOLTENS of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the following additional criminal offences:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine X 2
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Crystal Methamphetamine
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Psilocybin
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5000
- Failing to Comply with Release Order X 2
SCHOLTENS remains in police custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Wednesday, January 8, 2025, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in the City of St. Catharines.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact police by dialing 905-688-4111, dial option #3, extension #1022200.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
Incident #25-2180