Hidden GPS tracker and police pooch help catch N.S. smokes thieves – one a suspected prison killer

It was just before 3 a.m. on April 21 when police got a call about a break-in at the Needs on Ruth Goldbloom Drive in Halifax.

Maritech Investigations and Security, an alarm company, was reporting an intrusion at the Sherwood Heights convenience store.

“Officers were advised that they were currently monitoring a built-in global positioning system tracker on a Du Maurier cigarette package and were provided updated locations every six seconds,” RCMP Const. Dana Fraser said in a search warrant application.

A police sergeant got to the scene, noticing four or five packages of cigarettes on the pavement in front of the store.

“The steel plate that covers the dead bolt (on the front door) had been pried open,” Fraser said.

Cabinets targeted 

The thieves had taken off before police got there, but it was obvious what they’d been after.

“The cabinets behind the cash/till area had been targeted and a crowbar was seen lying on the floor,” Fraser said.

“These cabinets secure cigarettes within the store.”

The thieves took multiple drawers filled with cigarettes and lottery scratch cards, said the investigator.

Over the police radio, officers were talking about a 2021 white Volkswagen sedan they believed was involved in the break-in.

White Passat

Police tracked the car using the GPS device hidden inside one of the stolen packs of smokes.

“The tracker led police to a white Volkswagen Passat,” Fraser said in information to obtain a search warrant filed at Halifax provincial court.

Police spotted the car “travelling at a high rate of speed in the area of Windmill Road, Dartmouth,” Fraser said.

Several officers gave chase.

“The vehicle did not stop for police and appeared to be intentionally evading police to avoid apprehension,” Fraser said.

The sedan kept going into Bedford, then drove outbound on Rocky Lake Drive.

‘Continued to accelerate’

An officer behind the wheel of an unmarked police car saw a Volkswagen Passat stop at the traffic light at the intersection of Rocky Lake and the Bedford Highway. But there was another car stopped there as well, and he couldn’t tell which vehicle was carrying the GPS tracker.

“When the light turned green for the white VW Passat, it accelerated at a high rate of speed up Rocky Lake Drive,” Fraser said.

The officer in the unmarked car switched on his lights and sirens.

“The suspect vehicle made no attempts to slow down or pull over,” Fraser said, noting it continued to accelerate, hitting speeds of 160 kilometres an hour.

The VW came off Rocky Lake onto Highway 2 outbound, travelling toward Fall River, Fraser said.

The driver, trying to turn left onto Highway 102, smashed the car into a telephone pole near Inn on the Lake.

‘Took off running’

“The suspects took off running,” Fraser said.

Police tried to contain the area and got a sniffer dog named Morgan out looking for the thieves.

“Morgan instantly indicated a track travelling directly to the lake,” Fraser said.

The Needs manager produced surveillance camera footage showing two men pulling up to the store before the break-in in a white Volkswagen Passat.

In the video, as they walked toward the Needs, the man who had been driving was wearing a black hoodie or sweater, blue pants and black sneakers. His passenger wore a black hoodie or sweater, tan shorts, black sneakers and white socks.

Smelled like booze

By 3:24 a.m., police had a man in custody who matched the description of the Passat’s passenger. Morgan, the police dog, found him in the woods near the guardrail where the getaway car crashed.

The arresting officer identified the front passenger as Jordan Dorton, 33.

“He could smell a strong odour of alcohol coming from his breath each time Dorton was speaking,” Fraser said.

“He heard Dorton laughing at the situation and speaking over officers while attempting to explain.”

Dorton had been released from custody March 23 on orders to stay away from booze and drugs.

Police arrested Dorton for break and enter and read him his rights, said the constable.

“Dorton requested a lawyer after being explained in plain language as he could not understand his rights read from the police charter card with the legal terminology.”

The Passat turned out to be a rental from Enterprise.

“It was rented under the name Samantha Cuvelier, who is associated to Shea Durnford,” said the investigator.

‘Hiding in the shed’

Morgan located a second track that continued along the water’s edge of Lake Thomas, then west along the ditch on Highway 2. The pooch began barking as it led police to the backyard of a home off the highway at about 4:15 a.m.

“The second accused was located by (Police Service Dog) Morgan in a shed,” Fraser said.

“Shea Durnford was hiding in the shed behind a snowblower and lawn equipment. He surrendered as soon as PSD Morgan began to open the shed door.”

Durnford, 35, matched the description of the second suspect in the break-in.

He had been released from custody April 13, with a curfew that stretched from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. The release order “also contained the condition to have no direct or indirect contact or communication with Samantha Cuvelier,” who had rented the VW, Fraser said.

Prison killing

The Parole Board of Canada suspected Durnford was involved in a murder behind bars last November, but it let him out of prison in January anyway.

Durnford denied he was involved in the killing.

“On legal advice, you hesitated to elaborate,” said his most recent parole decision.

“However, you stated that you witnessed the incident but clearly asserted that others were responsible. Any suggestion of possessing a weapon was disputed.”

Back at the stolen smokes probe, police got the VW towed to Halifax Regional Police headquarters for examination after finding Dorton’s wallet and identification on the floor of the passenger side footwell.

‘Unopened packages’

There were “several unopened packages of cigarettes in the rear of the vehicle,” Fraser said.

The investigator convinced a justice of the peace to grant a search warrant for the car, looking specifically for cigarettes, cigarette drawers and packaging, lottery scratch cards and DNA evidence.

During an April 24 search of the car, police seized cigarettes, cigarette drawers, lottery tickets, a single glove and the GPS tracker they’d been following during the chase. They also seized an open 1.14-litre bottle of Crown Royal whisky from the back seat and a partially smoked cigarette from the VW’s centre console.

On Aug. 23, a judge sentenced Dorton to 11 months and 22 days in jail for the break-in. He also got two years behind bars for a robbery that took place Jan. 25, 2022.

Durnford, who is on remand, is facing charges for the smokes job that include break and enter, fleeing police and dangerous driving.

Durnford is also facing several charges, including possession of a firearm obtained by crime, related to an April 19 search of a home on Alabaster Way where a loaded prohibited firearm was seized.

He’s scheduled to return to Halifax provincial court Sept. 7 for election and/or plea.