A Chatham man is now facing gun charges following a single-vehicle collision back in April.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said the man was initially arrested on April 27 after the black Dodge Ram he was driving crashed into the light pole at the intersection of Middle Line and Charing Cross Road at around 6 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, the 36-year-old man was arrested and charged with impaired driving and driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit.
Prior to when police arrived, a witness saw two other people in the truck move alcohol from their vehicle to a black minivan before fleeing the scene. The witness followed the minivan and maintained communication with emergency services, providing detailed information.
Not long after, at around 6:30 a.m., officers were able to locate and stop the black minivan at Eighth Line and Dillon Road. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded Glock handgun with the serial number filed off under alcohol containers, which was within reach of both the driver and the passenger. Officers also learned the passenger was wanted on a Canadian Immigration Warrant.
Following an investigation, police have now tied the 36-year-old Chatham man to the firearm. He was arrested again on Wednesday when he attended police headquarters.
As a result, the accused, along with a 39-year-old Chatham man and a 32-year-old Wallaceburg woman, have all been charged with possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, tampering with the serial number of a firearm, and possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition.
The 39-year-old and 32-year-old are additionally charged with being an occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm, and possession of a concealed firearm.
