SUDBURY -- Timmins police have given a broader picture of the events leading up to the arrests of two males after a day-long search.
After the community of Timmins waited nervously for most of the day while police searched for someone they allege was "a dangerous fugitive" who fled from police, more details on the suspects have been revealed.
When Timmins police said they were looking for a fugitive Tuesday morning, they only mentioned one suspect, a 19-year-old male who had an altercation with officers at a local hotel and then fled in a car.
Officials say an officer was injured after being struck by the fleeing vehicle driven by the man who had a young person with him. The officer was treated at the Timmins hospital and has been placed on modified duty.
The getaway vehicle was later found in the Schumacher neighbourhood, triggering a police lockdown of the area while officers searched for the suspect.
Residents were urged to stay inside because police believed the man at large may have been armed.
Wednesday afternoon, Timmins police revealed that he is wanted for first-degree murder in connection to the death of 28-year-old Adrian Kadeem Drysdale, of Thunder Bay, in March. Drysdale died in hospital after allegedly being assaulted at a home.
The 19-year-old is one of the two suspects in the homicide.
He and a 16-year-old male, who is not a suspect in the Thunder Bay murder, were arrested during what police call a "high-risk takedown" Tuesday night at 5:45 p.m. near Hollinger Park in Timmins. Police say both are from Toronto.
"Both of these individuals are part of the drug culture and were observed in a number of locations that were under surveillance," said Marc Depatie, corporate communications coordinator with the Timmins Police Service. "Based on those facts, an attempt to take both persons into custody was undertaken at the Timmins hotel. Having made their escape, there was a necessity to hold the town of Schumacher in a form of lockdown in order to confirm their whereabouts."
A bystander caught the arrest on video at the intersection of Brunette Road and Algonquin Boulevard East after officers stopped a vehicle on the road.
Depatie tells CTV News the vehicle stopped at a residence that was under surveillance and the two suspects got into it. Officers followed the car for a bit before stopping it to make the arrest.
In light of the increased scrutiny of the use of force by police, Depatie said no one was harmed in the arrests and that the officers showed composure while following proper procedures and protocols.
"Both of these individuals are rather significant criminal figures and the level of sophistication attached is rather remarkable despite their age," said Depatie. "There are elements of the use of firearms, narcotics, and proceeds of crime that are rather significant in terms of elevated amounts of Canadian currency."
The two males have been charged with the following in connection to the incident involving police at the Timmins hotel:
- Carry a Firearm in a Careless Manner
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition
- Occupy a Motor Vehicle - Knowing a Firearm is Within
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
The 19-year-old faces additional charges of:
- Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Flight from Peace Officer
- Fail to Comply with Release Order x 2
Timmins police say a gun, vehicle, and other proceeds of crime have been seized and both of the accused are held in custody awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Thunder Bay police say the co-accused in the murder, another 19-year-old, was also arrested without incident Tuesday in Toronto. The two men will be transferred to Thunder Bay to appear in court in connection with the homicide.
"There is a free flow of information amongst those officers that work in the Toronto area in regards to these individuals, as well as Thunder Bay," said Depatie.
