Two men – ages 19 and 35 – have been charged with possession of cocaine thanks to a call from a private security guard.

Whitehorse RCMP Const. Dean Hoogland said this morning police tracked down the pair near the intersection of Quartz and Industrial roads Thursday afternoon after getting a call from the security guard at 1:30 p.m.

The security guard had told police a young man he believed to be high and have cocaine in his vehicle had peeled out of the Superstore parking lot and was on the road.

RCMP caught up to him in the Marwell area where the two men were arrested. The vehicle they were in has been impounded, Hoogland said, noting it was found not to have the proper plate.

The two men were later charged with possession of cocaine and released on a promise to appear in court later in August.

In an interview at the Superstore Thursday afternoon, the security guard (who wants to remain anonymous) said he noticed the young man exhibiting signs of intoxication around the car he later drove away in, which was parked in a handicapped stall. The man was attempting to sell the vehicle.

He was jumpy and took up a conversation with the security guard as he was approaching him near the sidewalk at the stores' entrance off Third Avenue.

The young man openly admitted he had taken cocaine and eventually even said there was some in his car.

"It was very weird how public he was,” the security guard said, pointing out that his role is very obvious given the uniform he wears on the job. "He burnt himself.”

For his own protection (as it was pointed out private security guards don't have the same training or jurisdiction to make arrests that police do), the security guard assured the man he wasn't calling the police, but made the call as soon as he could when the young man hopped into the car and peeled out of the parking lot, driving "not the least bit straight” on Third Avenue.

The security guard said his company works closely with the RCMP to deal with such situations.

"I'm glad we got him off the streets,” he said.

Working with the company for almost two years now, the security guard said cocaine seems to be more of a problem in the city.

"I've been seeing it a lot more than I thought (I would),” he said, adding it seems to be becoming more of an "everyday thing.”

The 19-year-old was also charged with driving without a licence and operating a vehicle without proper registration and expired plates.

By STEPHANIE WADDELL

Star Reporter