A Chatham couple is facing multiple charges after a woman was held against her will, threatened, and assaulted.
The woman came forward to Chatham-Kent police officers on October 13 and said that a few days prior she was forcibly confined at a home on Duke Street in Chatham by a man and a woman. The victim said the couple assaulted her, threatened her with various weapons, including a firearm, and coerced her into admitting involvement in an unrelated situation.
She was eventually released with a warning not to contact the police.
Officers promptly executed a search warrant at the Duke Street home in connection to the incident and ultimately discovered drugs, a firearm and cash. An additional warrant was obtained and officers seized a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, approximately $6,500 worth of heroin and fentanyl, along with a significant amount of Canadian currency.
As a result, a 27-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman are both charged with forcible confinement, assault, uttering threats, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited loaded firearm, careless storage of a firearm, and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
The man is additionally charged with pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon, operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited, and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
Both suspects were held in custody for a bail hearing.
The investigation into the forcible confinement and assault incident remains ongoing as police strongly believe other individuals were involved. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Constable Mark VanderGriendt at markvan@chatham-kent.ca or 519-436-6600 ext. 207.
