Durham Regional Police have charged four men, two of whom were already prohibited from carrying weapons, after seizing two handguns and a replica MAC-10 submachine gun during a firearm-trafficking investigation in Ajax.
Search Warrant Leads to Seizure of Weapons and Cash
Police said their guns and gangs unit concluded an investigation this month into firearm trafficking in Durham Region before executing a search warrant at an Ajax residence alongside the tactical support unit. Four men were taken into custody, while two handguns with overcapacity magazines, a replica MAC-10, ammunition, and cash were seized.
Charges Filed Against Four Suspects
Devante Boyce, 21, Darius Hamilton, 21, and Tristan Devounte Mitchell, 22, all of Ajax, and Quinton Parr, 21, of Toronto, are facing 39 charges combined. These include multiple counts of possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence and possession of a firearm obtained by crime. Boyce was also charged with two counts of failure to comply with a release order, while Hamilton was charged with breach of a peace bond, disobeying a court order, and failure to comply with a release order.
Second Investigation Leads to Arrests for Business Break-Ins
In a separate investigation, Durham police arrested two men accused of breaking into more than a dozen Ajax businesses and suspected of similar incidents in Whitby. Police responded to a property damage call from a security company on May 7 after several windows had been smashed at Buy and Sells King on Bayly St. W. in Ajax. Investigators determined that similar damage was done to the storefronts of at least 15 businesses in the area, including a bank, restaurant, cannabis store, and coffee shop. The suspects are also believed to be linked to similar incidents in Whitby.
Search Warrant Yields Stolen Motorcycles and Modified Flare Gun
Investigators conducted a search warrant on Tuesday in Oshawa, and a male suspect was taken into custody a short distance away without incident. The search turned up two stolen motorcycles, an expandable baton, dealership keys, a fake licence plate, ammunition, and a flare gun modified to shoot firearm ammunition. A second suspect was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday in Pickering.
Charges in Break-In Case
Matthew Gerald Pidgeon-Wallace, 31, of Oshawa – who was prohibited from carrying weapons at the time of his arrest – was charged with 41 offences including multiple counts of mischief under $5,000, possession of a firearm while prohibited, driving while disqualified, break-and-enter, and theft of a motor vehicle. Kody David Burgess, 35, of Pickering was charged with break-and-enter, theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and six counts of mischief under $5,000.
Police Seek Public Assistance
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Guns and Gangs Unit at 1-888-579-1520, Ext. 5800, or the West Crime Team at 1-888-579-1520, Ext. 1905. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.
