Three adults and three youths are facing numerous charges after allegedly breaking into a Chatham home and violently assaulting the residents.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service was called to an address in north Chatham shortly before midnight on August 10 following a home invasion.
Authorities said a group of individuals forced their way into the home by kicking in the front door. During the incident, one victim, a 16-year-old Chatham-Kent boy, was threatened with a knife, while another victim, a 19-year-old Chatham man, was assaulted, choked and threatened with death. The attackers also stole personal property before fleeing the scene.
Officers with the General Investigations Unit and Major Crime Team were able to identify several suspects in connection with the home invasion after reviewing surveillance footage and speaking to witnesses.
Upon learning that police were conducting an investigation, one of the attackers contacted a victim through social media on August 13 and made threats to shoot at the home and kill the occupants.
The following day, on August 14, the Emergency Response Team responded to a Chatham residence and arrested a 22-year-old Chatham man in connection with the threats and home invasion.
Two other suspects — another 22-year-old Chatham man, a 19-year-old Chatham woman — turned themselves in at police headquarters within the next two days. Two 15-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl were also arrested in connection with the home invasion.
All six suspects have been charged with break-and-enter to commit robbery, armed robbery, and assault. One of the men is additionally charged with disguise with intent, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats, and uttering threats to cause death, while the other is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent.
According to authorities, the victims and the suspects were all known to each other, and there was no threat to public safety.
