Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station

Suspect pointed handgun at victim, charges follow Three people have been charged with numerous drug and weapons offences following an incident at a gas station in Bruce Mines.

Three people have been charged with numerous drug and weapons offences following an incident at a gas station in Bruce Mines, Ont., on Nov. 21.

East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police responded to a call at 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the gas station.

"The investigation revealed that the complainant was parked beside the suspect vehicle, which was occupied by a driver and two passengers," the OPP said in a news release Monday.

"Both vehicles reversed simultaneously, during which a rear passenger in the suspect vehicle made an obscene gesture toward the complainant. The passenger then produced a handgun, inserted a magazine and pointed the weapon at the complainant."

The vehicle then fled on Highway 17. A search by the Sault Ste. Marie OPP, the canine unit and Batchewana First Nation Police Service located the vehicle on Highway 17, east of Sault Ste. Marie.

Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the three occupants.

"A subsequent search revealed a firearm hidden under the hood of the vehicle, along with a magazine and multiple rounds of ammunition," police said.

"Further investigation resulted in the seizure of various drugs from the vehicle. These included over seven grams of suspected cocaine, more than seven suspected fentanyl pills, over seven suspected Percocet pills, over 25 suspected clonazepam tablets, and over 280 suspected quetiapine pills."

The estimated street value of the drugs is more than $2,600.

Three people from Blind River, two men, ages 33 and 35, and a 28-year-old woman, were charged with numerous weapons and drug trafficking offences.

In addition, the 35-year-old was charged with two counts of violating probation orders and the 33-year-old was charged with failing to comply with an undertaking.

The 28-year-old was also charged with driving with cannabis readily available, failing to surrender and insurance card and driving with colour coating obscuring the interior.

The three accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on Nov. 22 and were remanded into custody.