Crown Stays Drug Charges Against Former University of Regina Football Player
The Crown prosecutor's office has formally stayed all drug trafficking charges against former University of Regina Rams football player Michael Jourdan, bringing a significant development in a high-profile case that captured public attention across Saskatchewan.
Legal Proceedings Halted for Former Athlete
Federal Crown prosecutor Brian Smith directed the stay of proceedings on November 10, 2025, effectively halting the prosecution against the 22-year-old former athlete. According to Smith, this decision was made in strict accordance with Public Prosecution Service of Canada policy regarding prosecutorial discretion.
The policy requires prosecutors to continually assess two critical criteria: whether there exists a reasonable prospect of conviction and whether proceeding serves the public interest. "Where either criterion is no longer met, a prosecution cannot continue," Smith explained in a January 20 email to the Regina Leader-Post.
Technical Distinction in Legal Process
It is important to understand that a stay of proceedings differs significantly from a withdrawal of charges. As outlined on federal government resources:
- A withdrawal permanently ends the prosecution of specific charges
- A stay allows charges to potentially be revived within one year
- The Crown retains discretion to resume proceedings during that period
Major Drug Investigation Background
The Regina Police Service originally charged five individuals, including Jourdan, in February 2024 following an intensive four-month drug trafficking investigation. Police executed eight search warrants on February 20 and 21, 2025, resulting in what authorities described as a major seizure.
The investigation yielded substantial evidence including:
- Approximately 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl
- Multiple firearms
- Significant quantities of cash
- Additional controlled substances
Police estimated the total value of seized items at approximately $1.5 million. At a subsequent news conference, Inspector Gary Giroux of the RPS Investigative Services Division noted that the fentanyl alone represented approximately 75,000 street-level doses.
Co-Accused Continue Through Legal System
While Jourdan's charges have been stayed, the legal matters for his four co-accused remain active before the courts. These individuals include:
- Emmanuel Ramadan Bashir
- Morteza Ahadi
- Randal Lee Racette
- Another former Rams player, Tarick Polius
The charges originally faced by Jourdan were substantial and included:
- Trafficking drugs for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Trafficking fentanyl
- Possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
- Possessing cash obtained through criminal activity
University Response and Bail Conditions
Shortly after the initial charges were announced in 2024, the University of Regina suspended both Jourdan and Polius from the Rams football team. Following his arrest, Jourdan was granted bail under specific conditions that required him to surrender both his Canadian and American passports to police authorities.
The case highlights the complex intersection of sports, education, and criminal justice in Canadian communities, while demonstrating the careful application of prosecutorial discretion within Canada's legal framework.
