Southwold break-in leads to drug and weapons seizure, three arrests

Items seized by OPP. (Source: OPP)

Weapons and drugs have been seized after a break-and-enter call in Southwold Township.

On April 29 around 4:15 p.m., Elgin OPP responded to an emergency call with a report of a break-and-enter in progress. The report said four masked people were seen with a gun.

When officers arrived on scene, one person was taken into custody without incident. Two others escaped the address on Bush Line but were later located on April 30 and arrested.

Following the incident, OPP executed search warrants at two homes on Bush Line and one in St. Thomas. The warrants seized:

• Two handguns
• One conducted energy device
• Five pellet guns
• Two butterfly knives
• Large quantities of cocaine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and clonazepam
• Scales
• Cell phones
• Packaging material
• $4,500 in cash

The estimated street value of the drugs is $21,600.

The ongoing investigation has so far led to three people being charged.

A 35-year-old St. Thomas man is charged with:

• Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition
• Careless use of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous person
• Possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a weapon
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking – opioid other than heroin

A 39-year-old woman from St. Thomas is charged with:

• Careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a weapon
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking – opioid other than heroin

A 33-year-old man from Ingersoll has been charged with:

• Failure to comply with release order
• Careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122. Crime Stoppers can also be contacted at 1-800-222-8477.