By Pepper Parr
Thursday evening the Halton Regional Police Guns and Gangs investigators along with the Emergency Services Unit raided a high risk east end Burlington residence and uncovered a sophisticated hydroponic grow-op with a hydro bypass, marihuana as well as a variety of prohibited weapons (flick knives and pepper spray) and a loaded .45 calibre pistol.
Cst Mitchell with police dog Juno being trained. Another police dog, Storm, was used in the drug raid in east end Burlington.
Police Services Dog, STORM, a general patrol dog who is also trained in the detection of firearms, was instrumental in the discovery of the pistol. The .45 calibre pistol was loaded. A gun of this size is very, very powerful and a Kevlar vest is not going to be much help. In addition to the .45 calibre pistol, investigators seized 22 other firearms from the residence.
This residence was clearly a very dangerous place that undercover police have probably been watching for some time.
The Halton Regional Police successfully dismantled a residential grow home and recovered a loaded firearm with the assistance of Police Services Dog, ‘STORM’.
Burlington Hydro took part in the raid to ensure that the lights do not come back on.
ACCUSED are: Graham ALLEN, 40 of Burlington; Grace ALLEN, 36 also of Burlington.
They have been charged with:
Theft of Hydro (consumption)
Occupants Injure Building
Produce Controlled Substance
Possession of a Controlled Substance
Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (5 counts)
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
Contravention of Storage Regulations (four counts)
Careless Storage of a Firearm
The police threw every charge they could think at these two. This investigation is going to be ongoing for some time.
I’d like to add some context to this news item.. A .45 calibre revolver blows a big hole in whatever it hits. The damage it does is not something one recovers from easily. Each day men and women are sent out on a raid which their commanding officers prepare them for – but there is no preparation for a bullet coming out of a .45 calibre handgun.
When most of us go to work each day we expect to come home unharmed. The officer who took part in that raid in east end Burlington on Thursday expected to get home that night. Fortunately the handgun was not in the hands of a criminal about to be arrested. They were lucky. It doesn’t always work out that way.
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gang or gun activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
