Northern man facing 58 charges in series of alleged firearm, assault incidents

A man is shown in handcuffs in this undated representative image. (File photo)

A 35-year-old man is facing 58 criminal charges following a series of investigations by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service involving alleged firearms offences and assaults.

The investigation began on Dec. 21, 2024, when police received a report of an individual with a concealed firearm outside a business in the 300-block of John Street.

Investigators identified the accused and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Nine days later, on Dec. 30, police were called to the same block of John Street after a 911 caller reported that an individual had sprayed another person with bear mace both outside and inside a business.

“The victim and accused were not known to one another,” said police in a news release.

“However, an investigation revealed the suspect’s identity as the accused.”

Authorities then secured a second arrest warrant.

On Feb. 28, 2025, detectives began investigating reports that the accused had allegedly uttered threats and was in possession of a firearm at a unit in a multi-residence building in the 100 block of Wellington Street West.

On March 1, detectives arrested the accused on the strength of the outstanding warrants and executed a search warrant at his unit. Officers seized a BB pistol, three pellet pistols, a shotgun and various types of ammunition during the search.

On March 12, police attended the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre, where the accused was already in custody, and laid additional charges related to the March 1 search.

The accused is charged with seven counts of possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and carrying concealed weapon in the Dec. 21 incident; assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, administering noxious thing and mischief in the Dec. 30 incident; and 36 counts of possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, four counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm as a result of the reports in February and the search on March 1.

The accused was held pending a bail hearing.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.