Couple arrested for possession of stolen car, drugs, and firearms

Police investigating a stolen vehicle ended up in a much larger investigation involving drugs and firearms at a hotel off of Division Street near Highway 401.

The investigation unfolded on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020 when members of the Kingston Police Street Crime Unit observed the stolen vehicle leaving the parking lot of the Days Inn by Wyndham (formerly First Canada Inn) on First Canada Avenue in the city’s north end. Police then observed the male driver – the accused man – return to the hotel in a taxi a short time later. The stolen vehicle was later located in the parking lot of a north end apartment building.

According to Kingston Police, further investigation found that a female had been staying with the accused man. Security footage from the hotel showed the stolen vehicle arriving at the hotel on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The accused man, who had been driving, was seen on the security footage unloading items from the stolen vehicle into a hotel room as the accused woman assisted.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, police obtained a warrant authorizing entry to the hotel room. At approximately 11:20 a.m., the accused woman was observed exiting the hotel and walking to a nearby store. Members of the Kingston Police Emergency Response Unit executed the warrant and entered the hotel room at approximately 11:30 a.m. The accused man was immediately arrested for possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Inside the hotel room, members of the Street Crime Unit located a restricted firearm, as well as a replica firearm. Additionally, police located two boxes of ammunition on top of a dresser.

At approximately 11:48 a.m., the accused woman was located and arrested as she exited a nearby store.

Police then obtained a separate warrant for the hotel room, where they also located a quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine, and various other controlled substances, as well as packaging material, with a total street value of approximately $10,000. A quantity of Canadian currency was also seized.

The 50-year-old Kingston man was charged with:

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of a restricted firearm without holding a licence and registration certificate
• Possession of an unloaded, regulated firearm
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Three counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of a Schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Two counts of breach of undertaking

The 39-year-old Kingston woman was charged with:

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of a restricted firearm without holding a licence and registration certificate
• Possession of an unloaded, regulated firearm
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Three counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of a Schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking