Tyler Richards, Halifax Rainmen player, let go from team

Tyler Richards, a player with the Halifax Rainmen, has been let go from the basketball team following last week's drugs and weapons allegations.

Richards is one of six people facing charges after a five-week police investigation, called Operation Indict, which targeted street-level drug trafficking in the Halifax region.

Rainmen owner Andre Levingston said Friday the allegations are serious and he’s disappointed with the player.

"Our players serve as role models in the community and we stand in front of kids and everyday and talk to them about making the right decisions and staying away from drugs and things of that nature," Levingston said.

It’s not the player’s first brush with the law.

Richards was a star player at St. Francis Xavier University in 2009 when he was charged with assault causing bodily harm related to a late night incident in Antigonish.

Levingston said Richards has worked hard to repair his reputation since then. The Rainmen owner said he "went out on a limb" to reach out to the player and give him a second chance.

Levingston said he loves Richards "like a son," and will be there to help him if he wants to change his behaviour.

The Halifax Regional Police/RCMP Integrated Guns and Gangs unit arrested six people after a search of several homes resulted in the seizure of cocaine, marijuana and a loaded handgun.

The five men and one woman, ranging in ages from 21 to 27 years old, were arrested without incident Dec. 19 and 20.​