Loaded Gun Seized From Thief

Toronto Police seized a loaded firearm and a large quantity of drugs from a man who is alleged to have stole from a street vendor in the Eglinton Ave. & Oakwood Ave. area.

On August 25 around 10:45 a.m., officers in 13 Division responded to a call for a person who stole a dustpan from a vendor at an outdoor market.

When the victim approached the accused, asking him to return the stolen item, it is reported that he lifted his shirt above his waist without saying a word.

Taking the gesture as a threat he was armed, the victim backed off.

The man was located by police shortly afterward on a bicycle. Upon seeing the officers approach, he fled the area and discarded his bicycle at a fence that he scaled.

Police arrested him and located a loaded handgun.

“At this time of day, the area is very busy with pedestrian traffic,” said Inspector Michelle Olszevski. “Due to the prompt response by officers, they located the man who was subsequently taken into custody and found to have a loaded firearm holstered on his side and readily accessible. The firearm had one round chambered and was loaded with 22 additional rounds. Thankfully, the accused was taken into custody without incident.”

“This arrest speaks to the extreme dangers our officers’ face and I am beyond thankful that the individual was arrested and his firearm seized with no injury to any of our community members or officers.”

The accused is alleged to have 16.59 grams of what is believed to be fentanyl and 16.27 grams of what is believed to be crack cocaine.