Hamilton Police have laid weapons charges against yet another individual in a string of instances this year where an individual was either on bail or wanted by police in connection with previous crimes. The arrest comes in the wake of the murder of OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala, by a suspect police say had skipped bail on serious weapons and assault charges. Hamilton Police have seized a loaded firearm following the arrest a 21-year-old man who had also been out on bail and then skipped.
On Friday, December 23, 2022, around 4:00 p.m, Hamilton Police responded to an address on Meritage Lane, between Greenhill and Highway 20, to arrest a male wanted on an outstanding warrant. When officers arrived, the male was observed seated in the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence. There was an adult female seated in the front passenger seat. When police requested the male to exit the car, he intentionally reversed his vehicle into a police cruiser in an attempt to flee. Unable to escape, officers seized the opportunity to safely remove the male from the driver’s seat and arrest him.
During the investigation police located a loaded, semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in the vehicle. As a result, both the male and female occupants were arrested and charged with possession of the firearm. Police searched the vehicle and came up with a prohibited pistol magazine with a twenty-seven round capacity, extra ammo, drugs, a scale and cash.
Arrested were 21-year-old Lizaine Darious Teton Welsh and 20-year-old Courtney Smith. The two face weapons and drug charges.
Welsh was on a release from the courts for previous drug trafficking charges and was on conditions to not possess any weapons/firearms/ammunition and not to occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle or to possess any non-prescribed drugs.
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