Image courtesy of South Simcoe Police
Four suspects have been arrested and charged following a lengthy investigation into a violent home invasion in Innisfil.
The South Simcoe Police Service says officers received a report of a home invasion on February 7th, at a residence near Ferguson Street and Benson Street.
According to police, three suspects armed with firearms forced their way into the home while a fourth suspect waited in a vehicle. Five occupants were held at gunpoint as the suspects searched for a safe containing Canadian currency.
During the incident, the occupants were assaulted, cellular phones were stolen, and rooms were ransacked. The suspects fled in separate vehicles, including one stolen from the residence’s driveway.
Responding officers later spotted one of the suspect vehicles travelling westbound on Benson Street. The vehicle stopped after striking a snowbank, and its lone occupant fled on foot. Police canine officers attended and a perimeter was established, but the suspect was not found.
The stolen vehicle was later involved in an unrelated incident in Peterborough before being recovered by Ontario Provincial Police near Cobourg.
Following the investigation, six suspects were identified and face a combined total of 106 criminal charges. Four have been arrested and charged.
A 32-year-old man from Brampton faces the following charges:
- Robbery with a firearm x 5
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Break and enter a dwelling house
- Dangerous operation
- Disguise with intent
- Flight from a peace officer
- Fraud over $5,000
- Obstruct a peace officer
- Perjury
- Public mischief — reporting an offence that had not been committed x 2
Two 19-year-old men from Durham Region and a 19-year-old man from Northumberland County have each been charged with the following offences:
- Robbery with a firearm x 5
- Pointing a firearm x 5
- Forcible confinement x 5
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Careless use of a firearm
- Firearm used while committing an offence
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
- Break and enter a dwelling house
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Theft of a motor vehicle
- Mischief under $5,000
- Disguise with intent
Police say arrest warrants have been issued for the two remaining suspects, who are still outstanding.
