Man charged after police find 13 grenades, handgun, ammunition in Scarborough home
A man has been charged after officers found 13 grenades, a handgun and ammunition during a search of a Scarborough home Wednesday night, Toronto police say.
The live grenades, found inside a house on Canlish Road near Birchmount Road and Lawrence Avenue East, are in possession of the police.
The grenades are not military relics, though 12 of them are said to be military training grenades that were being contained in a hard plastic case. The Canadian Armed Forces told CBC the grenades are not from the Canadian military.
The man, 30, of Toronto faces 15 charges including but not limited to:
- Possession of a restricted firearm without a licence
- Possessing dangerous weapons
- Possession of an explosive substance
A search warrant was executed at the home after 5:25 p.m. and the search was carried out under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, police said. There were toys on the front lawn during the search and neighbours said children live there.
When officers entered the home, they found the grenades and handgun. Police left the home and called explosive experts to the scene to have the grenades removed.
The search of the home prompted the evacuation of houses on either side. During the search, residents forced to leave their homes stayed warm on a TTC bus that was brought to the scene.
Al Platts, his wife and twin girls, age 5, were told to wait on the bus during the search.
"We got a knock on the door about quarter to 11, telling us that we had to evacuate, something about there was a bomb in the area. We haven't been told much since then," Platts said.
Platts, who has lived in the area all his life, said he had to start work at 6:30 a.m. and was not happy about being forced out of his home.
"We haven't been told what was in the house or anything like that," he said. "I am pretty upset about it, absolutely."
He said his children were upset, as well.
"They are pretty frightened right now. I'm sure a lot of people in the neighbourhood are. It's a very quiet neighbourhood. I've never seen this happen ever before."
Officers from the Toronto police Emergency Task Force also helped in the search.
The residents forced from their homes were allowed back home three hours later.
Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook, spokesperson for Toronto police, said there is no threat to public safety.
"At this point, there is no danger to anyone in the area," she said.
