A convicted Chatham-area drug dealer who was already imprisoned after the largest drug bust in Chatham-Kent's history has been connected to another drug-related investigation in the area.
Chatham-Kent police said they have charged two people, including 40-year-old Jonathan Toornstra, in connection with with an investigation into illegal drugs dating back to August.
CK police said members of the Chatham-Kent Police Intelligence Section searched a home on McFadden Avenue on August 23, as well as the homeowner’s vehicle and a storage unit on Queen’s Line as part of a drug probe.
Investigators reported turning up nearly $500,000 in drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other controlled substances. Police also seized digital scales, packaging materials, a counting machine, a vacuum seal machine, cell phones, and an unspecified “large” amount of cash.
In a media release issued Tuesday, police said information gathered from the August drug seizure led to an additional search warrant being executed at the Collins Bay Correctional Facility in Kingston where Jonathan Toornstra was incarcerated as a result of a 2019 investigation and conviction.
The 2019 investigation involved the seizure of $2.6 million worth of illegal drugs -- the largest drug bust in Chatham-Kent's history. Toornstra pleaded guilty to drug and weapons-related charges in connection with the case and the judge overseeing the case sentenced him to 10 years in prison, noting in her decision that "he earned every one of those years."
In the most recent case, involving the seizure of $500,000 worth of illegal drugs, a total of 17 drug and weapon-related charges were laid.
37-year-old Kyle Matthew Toornstra of Chatham was charged with six counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, five counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and careless storage of a firearm. He was released from custody with a future court date.
40-year-old Jonathan Toornstra, now of Kingston, was charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He is currently incarcerated and will be required to attend court at a future date to answer the current charges.