Police briefs: Carp Road Corridor garage fire, Bank heist spree ended, Bayshore shooting

HUNTLEY – Ottawa volunteer firefighters spent the afternoon (June 27) battling a garage fire in the Carp Road Corridor.

Ottawa Fire Service (OFS) received a 911 call at 4:11 p.m. with initial reports of a fire coming from the back of a detached garage at a commercial low-rise in the 2600 block of Carp Road.

“Upon arrival, it was confirmed a single-story commercial garage had black smoke visible from the bay doors,” OFS public information officer Nicholas DeFazio released in a statement today. “A ‘working fire’ was declared at 1620 to dispatch additional resources to the scene.”

Firefighters initiated a fast attack and advanced a hose line inside the structure.

“The fire was in an area of the city with no hydrants,” DeFazio said.” Firefighters used a water shuttle system to bring water to the scene from a water source.”

The fire was declared under control at 4:30 p.m.

“An OFS investigator was dispatched to the scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire,” DeFazio said.

Charges laid in National Holocaust Memorial vandalism

DOWNTOWN – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) charged a 46-year-old Ottawa man, following an investigation of the June 9, vandalism of the National Holocaust Monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing in Ottawa.

The monument was defaced with red paint.  The man has been charged with: 

• Mischief to a War Memorial
• Mischief exceeding $5,000
• Harassment by threatening Conduct

The man is scheduled to appear in court on June 28. 

“The OPS Hate and Bias Crime Unit is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information to contact their tip line at 613-236-1222, extension 5625,” the OPS released in a statement today (June 27). “The OPS treats incidents of this nature seriously and recognizes their profound impact on the community. We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents to report them to police. Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping cycles of hatred.”

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

OPP put end to bank robbery spree

ONTARIO – Police have laid additional charges in a multi-jurisdictional bank robbery investigation named Project Opal.

Between Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, and Saturday, March 16, 2024, a series of eight armed bank robberies occurred in jurisdictions policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Barrie Police Service, Belleville Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Niagara Regional Police Service and York Regional Police.

“While each police service initially investigated their respective incidents, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) assumed a coordinating role in August 2023 after investigators identified consistent patterns suggesting the involvement of a single group of suspects,” OPP strategic communications advisor Agata Czajkowski released in a statement today (June 27).

In each robbery, two or three individuals entered the bank shortly before closing. The suspects wore different disguises in each occurrence and brandished at least one handgun. In the last six robberies, bank employees were bound. Investigators have determined the group of suspects is responsible for more than $2 million in reported losses across eight banks. The stolen funds have not yet been recovered.

On Friday, June 21, 2024, three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, ON, by OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit and the OPP Aviation Unit, with support from West Nipissing OPP Crime Unit and CIB. A fourth suspect was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Vaughan, ON.

“On Friday, June 27, the OPP charged Roderick Newman, 33 of Coburg, ON, with two counts of robbery with restricted or prohibited weapon contrary to the Criminal Code,” Czajkowski said. “These charges are in relation to robberies in Barrie and Newmarket.”

The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa on Tuesday, July 8.

The fifth suspect, Akeem Williams, 33 of Ajax, ON, remains wanted. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to not approach him and instead contact police immediately.

This investigation included support from the Centre of Forensic Services and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Bayshore shooting leaves one wounded

BAYSHORE – The OPS Guns and Gangs Unit is investigating a shooting that occurred late Thursday (June 26) evening.

“On June 26, at approximately 11:30 p.m., patrol officers responded to the 100 block of Woodridge Crescent following reports of a shooting,” the OPS released in a statement today (June 27). “Upon arrival, officers located a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Firearms seized by the OPS in separate incidents

OTTAWA – The OPS seized multiple firearms in two separate incidents between June 25 and 27.

June 25 incident:

At approximately 10 p.m. in the 0-100 block of Inverkip Avenue, members of the OPS South Neighbourhood Resource Team (NRT) conducted a traffic stop in relation to Highway Traffic Act offences.

“During the interaction, officers observed that the driver was breaching court-imposed conditions,” the OPS released in a statement today (June 27). “A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded firearm.”

The driver now faces several firearm-related charges in addition to breaching his conditions.

June 27 incident:

At approximately 12:50 a.m., police received a call reporting a woman was being held against her will by a man armed with a firearm in the forested area behind Hurdman Bus Station.

“Officers quickly worked to triangulate the caller’s location and initiated a search,” the OPS said. “The investigation led them through a wooded area and an encampment, where they located the suspect lying beside a firearm. The man was arrested without incident.”

Anyone with information related to these incidents or other firearm-related activity is asked to contact the Guns and Gangs Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5050. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at crimestoppers.ca.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPS Guns and Gangs Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 5050, or remain anonymous and contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at crimestoppers.ca.

Seventeen year old arrested with gun, drugs

(Ottawa) — On June 9, a 17-year-old youth was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm and a large quantity of drugs.

“Investigators secured an additional loaded and prohibited firearm, as well as ammunition, from a subsequent search of their residence this week,” the OPS released in a statement yesterday (June 26).

He cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

“The accused is facing multiple firearms-related charges, including possession of a loaded firearm without a valid licence, unlawful possession of prohibited devices, and careless handling and storage of a weapon,” the OPS said. “Additional charges relate to possessing weapons while under a court-imposed firearms prohibition, as well as possessing property believed to be obtained through crime. The youth is also charged with failing to comply with a previous sentence under the YCJA.”

The OPS East Criminal Investigations Section is continuing the investigation.

Play a role in helping to keep our community safe. Report firearms or other criminal activity to Ottawa Police or stay anonymous and call Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at crimestoppers.ca.