Disarming Armed Man at Street Festival

Police officers reacted quickly to disarm a gunman at a busy street festival.

“In this particular case, officers from various units working callbacks and paid duties came together as a team very quickly to arrest this armed individual without any disruption to the festival,” said Inspector Michelle Olszevski of 13 Division. “It is so remarkable that they were able to react so quickly, which speaks to the training they received and their professionalism and commitment to public safety.”

It is alleged that a man and his girlfriend were waiting in line to use the restrooms at a restaurant on July 7 when a man cut into the line.

An argument began and the man pulled out a firearm and struck the victim on top of his head with it. A single round discharged during the incident.

Sergeant Joel Evelyn and his team of seven officers had just passed the restaurant when an employee ran up to him, telling him that there had been a shooting.

“Before the detail, I indicated to the officers – five of whom are young and newer to the role – that when we are in crowded areas, we have to stay together and move as a unit because we are outnumbered,” he said, of the assignment at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival. “About 40 minutes later, the employee grabbed my right hand, saying we have to come back because there is a shooting. I immediately turned on my body-worn camera and turned around with the team, reminding them to be careful because we didn’t know what we were running into. As we got closer, people pointed out the suspect.”

The suspect struggled with officers before he was arrested.

“He was holding on to his waist and did not want to give up what he had there,” Evelyn said.  “It was a fight to get him down.”

The sergeant said some of his officers were exposed to an airborne narcotic the suspect had in his possession.

This is the second time in the last three years that Evelyn has recovered a gun at street festival.

“The guns are out there and it is unimaginable why someone would take one to an event where people are having fun,” he said.

A loaded Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol and 4.75 grams of fentanyl was seized along with cash in his satchel.

While sitting on the grass with officers and paramedics assigned to the the Festival, the accused went into medical distress and was transported to hospital.

Richard Iraheta, 37, is facing seven charges, including attempted murder.

Between July 9 and 15, officers recovered 11 firearms, laying 94 charges and arrested 12 people, including two people under 18. Some of the incidents leading to gun seizures:

• On July 9, officers were able to track down suspects who robbed someone of an iPhone he was selling. Officers chased the suspects, one ditching a satchel in the foot pursuit, later found to contain drugs. The other suspect was seen throwing items into a wooded area and a Police Dog handler and his dog were able to recover a loaded handgun.

• On July 10, 22 Division officers arrested three people in a break-and-enter in a bulding on The Queensway. They seized a handgun that was converted to fire as an automatic weapon with an extended magazine for additional rounds.