A 42-year-old Toronto man is arrested after employees at a Whitchurch-Stouffville firearms store and shooting range seized an unlicensed firearm and controlled a suspect until police arrived.
The employees had secured the weapon after noting it was unlicensed and its serial numbers had been filed off, on Feb. 25 at about noon, York Regional Police said in a news release.
"The staff members took quick action to secure the weapon and called police," police said.
The suspect then attacked an employee while attempting to retrieve the firearm, but the employees were able to maintain control of the suspect until officers arrived, police said.
A man was arrested and the firearm was seized, police said.
The accused was already on previous conditions not to be in possession of firearms.
Search warrants executed at a residence and vehicle in Toronto resulted in the seizure of another rifle with ammunition and high-capacity magazines, police said.
"York Regional Police would like to thank the staff members involved in this incident for their bravery and quick response. These heroic actions led to the recovery of two illegal weapons and may have prevented a significant tragedy from occurring,' police said.
Felix Algai, 42, of Toronto is charged with:
- Possession of a firearm knowing serial number has been tampered with;
- Possession firearm other than restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence;
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized;
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device;
- Contravention of storage regulations;
- Careless transport of a prohibited device;
- assault;
- Disobeying order of court (two counts).
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at 1800222tips.com.
