3 Arrested After Firearm Incident

(BRUCE MINES)- A firearm was pointed at a driver attempting to exit a gas station parking lot.

On November 21, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a weapons call that occurred at a gas station parking lot in the Town of Bruce Mines.

The investigation revealed that the complainant was parked beside the suspect vehicle, which was occupied by a driver and two passengers. Both vehicles reversed simultaneously, during which a rear passenger in the suspect vehicle made an obscene gesture toward the complainant. The passenger then produced a handgun, inserted a magazine, and pointed the weapon at the complainant.

The suspect vehicle fled westbound on Highway 17. With assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie OPP detachment, the OPP Canine Unit and Batchewana First Nation Police Service, police located the vehicle on Highway 17, east of Sault Ste. Marie. Officers conducted a traffic stop and arrested the three occupants. A subsequent search revealed a firearm hidden under the hood of the vehicle, along with a magazine and multiple rounds of ammunition.

Further investigation resulted in the seizure of various drugs from the vehicle. These included over seven grams of suspected cocaine, more than seven suspected fentanyl pills, over seven suspected Percocet pills, over 25 suspected clonazepam tablets, and over 280 suspected quetiapine pills. The estimated street value of the seized substances exceeds $2,600.

Joseph DAY, 35 years-of-age from Blind River was charged with:

• Breach of firearm regulation-transport firearm or restricted weapon
• Pointing a firearm
• Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
• Possession of prohibited weapon or restricted firearm with ammo
• Possession of firearm knowing serial number has been tampered with
• Possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-opioid (other than heroin) – two counts
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Fail to comply with probation order – two counts

Keegan DAY, 33 years-of-age from Blind River was charged with:

• Breach of firearms regulation-transport firearm or restricted weapon
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
• Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammo
• Possession of a firearm knowing serial number has been tampered with
• Possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance-opioid (other than heroin)
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of a schedule I substance-other drugs
• Failure to comply with undertaking

Lindsay RIETZE, 28 years-of-age from Blind River was charged with:

• Breach of firearms regulation-transport firearm or restricted weapon
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
• Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammo
• Possession of a firearm knowing serial number has been tampered with
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-opioid (other than heroin) – two counts
• Possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available
• Fail to surrender insurance card
• Colour coating obscuring interior

The three accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on November 22, 2024, and were remanded into custody.