(KENORA, ON) – Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Kenora Detachment Crime Unit with the assistance of Kenora Drug Enforcement Officers of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), the Kenora Detachment Street Crime Unit and the Kenora Detachment of the OPP have charged five people following a series of crimes over the weekend.
On Saturday April 26, 2014 shortly after 7:00am, OPP received a report that a vehicle had been entered outside a residence in the Ride Out area of Kenora and a firearm had been stolen. While investigating the first report, police received another call that a black GMC Sierra pick-up truck had been stolen within blocks of the first incident. It was estimated that the thefts had occurred overnight.
As the investigation progressed, police continued to receive reports of crimes including several break and enters to seasonal residences on Highway 671 as well as damage to the City of Kenora Transfer Station located in the same area.
On Sunday April 27, 2014 police observed the stolen vehicle on Redditt Road, north of Kenora. A roadblock was set up and the vehicle was stopped. All three occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
Police executed a search warrant on April 28, 2014 at a residence on Mascott Avenue. Police recovered the stolen firearm as well as other stolen property.
Five individuals were charged as a result of the initial investigation.
On Tuesday April 30, 2014 police charged 47-year-old Richard DARLING of Kenora with Careless Storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition contrary to section 86(1) of the Criminal Code. The accused is to appear in Kenora Criminal Court on June 5, 2014.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to call the Kenora OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.