Police briefs: CAF major facing weapon charges, Two arrested in Kanata North robbery, South Keys sex assault

PETAWAWA – A major with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is facing several weapon charges after being accused of smuggling weapons in to Canada after deployment to the United State.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 15 it has laid several criminal charges against a major with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The CBSA said it seized trafficked weapons after conducting search warrants at residences in Kingston and Petawawa which led to multiple criminal charges against Maj. Kendrick Barling.

According to the CBSA, Barling returned to Canada in August of 2023 after being posted in the United States for five years. His household goods were shipped through Canadian Forces Base Trenton and a number of undeclared firearms were found hidden in the shipment.

The CBSA’s Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team (OFSET) conducted search warrants on Oct. 19 at a residence in Kingston and on Oct. 23 at a residence in Petawawa, and found and seized several prohibited firearms and items:

•  Seven handguns
•  10 rifles (including assault rifles)
•  Two shot guns
•  Approximately 45,000 rounds of ammunition of varying calibres
•  Hundreds of magazines that included AR-15 over-capacity magazines

Some firearms had duplicate serial numbers.

Maj. Kendrick Barling has been charged by the CBSA with the following offences:

•  Five counts of Smuggle Goods into Canada
• Two counts of Making False Statements
•  Two counts of Import Goods without a Permit
•  Nine counts of Importing a Firearm Knowing it is Unauthorized
•  Nine counts of Unauthorized Importing of a Firearm
• Two counts of Contravention of Transportation Regulations

The accused is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 22.

Ottawa police have arrested and charged two individuals after responding to an alarm that went off at a business in Kanata early this morning.

OPS arrest two in Kanata business theft

KANATA NORTH – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) arrested two people early Wednesday (Nov. 15) morning suspected of breaking in to a Kanata business.

“Officers responded to the 300 block of Earl Grey Drive at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 after an alarm went off at a business, the OPS released in a statement yesterday (Nov. 15).

According to police, “a commercial unit had been broken into.”

The OPS said officers located the suspect vehicle and driver and started chasing the other suspect who fled on foot. They were both arrested and are facing several charges, and police are looking for two other people involved in the early morning incident.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the OPS Break and Enter Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 4533. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.

Charges laid in local hospital suspicious incident

ELMVALE – The OPS East Criminal Investigations Unit has charged a woman following a suspicious incident last week at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus.

“At approximately 11:15 p.m. on Nov. 9, officers attended a hospital in the 500 block of Symth Road in relation to a suspicious incident,” the OPS released in a statement yesterday (Nov. 15). “Gasoline had been poured inside the hospital with messages left nearby. The messages were related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.”

The accused was arrested and early this morning a search warrant was executed on her residence.

A 33-year-old woman of Ottawa has been charged with several offences:

• Attempt to commit arson endanger life
• Attempt to commit arson damage property
• Mischief, Obstruct property
• Mischief, property damage endangering life
• Possess incendiary material for arson
• Disobey lawful order of court
• Breach of probation

The woman is appearing in court this afternoon.

“We do not believe that this incident was hate-motivated, however it is related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza,” the OPS said. “The OPS is committed to ensuring everyone’s safety.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Ottawa Police East Criminal Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 3566. 

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.  

South Keys sex assault 

SOUTH KEYS – The OPS East District Investigation Unit is looking for public assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a sexual assault that occurred on Sept. 25 inside a commercial business in the 1000 block of Daze Street.

“At approximately 6:35 p.m. the suspect male approached the female victim inside the business, as he walked past, he grabbed her buttocks,” the OPS released in a statement yesterday (Nov. 15). “He then left the store on foot eastbound on Daze Street.”

The suspect is described as an Asian or Indigenous male, 30 to 40 years old, medium build, 5’7” (170 cm), with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue Atlanta Braves jersey and baseball cap, black sweatpants, red running shoes and was carrying a red backpack.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Nadeau at 613-236-1222, extension 3366. Tips may also be sent electronically to nadeauj@ottawapolice.ca Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).