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BARRIE — Despite protests by the Crown, an alleged associate of the notorious Crips gang was released on bail after police accused him of carrying a loaded handgun and drugs at Wasaga Beach.

Jalen Pitt, of Brampton, who will turn 20 this week, was allowed to go home with his parents.

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Crown attorney Rick Bagg argued against his release, saying the public will be outraged.

“The combination of guns and gangs and drugs is of great concern to the public,” Bagg told justice of the peaceJennifer Robinsonin his bid to keep Pitt behind bars. “The community will not believe it is being protected.”

Court heard Pitt was under OPP surveillance for several hours at Wasaga Beach Sept. 12 after police received information that members of the Acorn Place Crips gang would be there.

They watched Pitt associating with other known gang members while carrying a satchel, court was told. Members of the Peel Regional Police force’s guns and gangs unit moved in and found a loaded handgun, 42 grams of cocaine and crack-cocaine and $1,060 in cash and digital scales inside a satchel.