M'Chigeeng drug search leads to arrest of wanted man Mitchell Gillingham

Mitchell Osama Gillingham, 33, of Windsor is wanted by police on Manitoulin Island for several firearm-related offences and is considered 'armed and dangerous.' (UCCM Anishnaabe Police)

After almost two months of evading UCCM Anishnaabe Police, officers have arrested 33-year-old Mitchell Osama Gillingham.

The Windsor man had been wanted following an incident on April 19, 2024 in which a gun had been pointed at a victim.

The ordeal began Monday evening at a housing complex on Tikmeg Road in M’Chigeeng. UCCM and Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a search warrant of one of the units. A 23 year-old woman who lived inside the property surrendered and was arrested.

Investigators say they located a male suspect in the attic with a handgun.

Neighbours were immediately evacuated for safety reasons along with the homes in the surrounding block. According to a news release from the UCCM, the suspect attempted to evade police by breaking through the attics of neighbouring attics.

Gillingham was later arrested following a negotiation without serious injuries to himself or police.

The housing complex however had extensive damages due to the event and has now displaced several individuals from their homes.

Police later found a loaded handgun and what was believed to be over four ounces of fentanyl and roughly 2 ounces of cocaine.

“The event has caused concern, trauma and worry to the children and residents in the immediate neighbourhood as well the community of M’Chigeeng at large. It is becoming increasingly frequent that investigations and situations such as this are occurring, we are challenging all community agencies and citizens to come together and develop a comprehensive community action plan in combatting the epidemic of illicit drug use and the violence that comes with it. We all play important roles in curbing the violence and social disparity of the illicit drug problem,” wrote Chief James Killeen in a news release.

Gillingham is now facing almost two dozen various charges while the 23-year-old inside the apartment is facing six charges, including Obstruct Justice.

“UCCM would also like to thank everyone that came forward with information regarding these individuals. It is unfortunate that some members of our community knowingly harbor dangerous armed individuals and mislead the police in their attempts to apprehend these individuals,” Killeen added. “Harboring wanted criminals in your residences allows serious criminal activity to continue while negatively impacting many community members suffering the residual crimes that are proliferated through drug trafficking and organized crime.”