Charges have been laid against four people in Lethbridge following a pair of incidents. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Police lay charges for aggravated assault, drugs, weapons

Dec 1, 2025 | 3:12 PM

Four people are facing charges after a recent pair of investigations in the city.

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) says, just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, officers were called to the 700 block of 3 Ave South on reports of an assault that involved weapons.

A man was airlifted to hospital in Calgary with life-threatening injuries to his head, where he remains in stable condition.

Upon further investigation, LPS says it was determined that a group of men attacked the victim after he confronted them at an encampment. The parties are said to be known to each other.

Three people were arrested without incident a short time later.

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Marty Lee Fransen, 51, and Gabriel Justin Fransen, 25, both of Lethbridge, are charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Both were remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday.

The third subject was released without charges.

As police continued their investigation, witnesses reported two suspicious vehicles in the area.

One of the vehicles was stopped, and the male driver and passenger were arrested.

LPS says it seized approximately 633 doses of fentanyl, 627 doses of methamphetamine, just under $1,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia including scales and packaging, a BB handgun, batons, and knives.

The two people in the vehicle were not involved in the assault.

Matthew Douglas Dragland, 39, of Lethbridge, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of possession of a prohibited firearm/weapon, and three counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a release order. Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Dragland was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on December 4.

Jeremy Mackenzie Toth, 39, of Lethbridge, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order. Toth was released from custody with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on December 11.