18-year-old and 17-year-old charged in rock-throwing incidents in York Region

York Regional Police cruiser in this undated file photo. (CTV NEWS/BARRIE/Mike Walker)

Police in York Region have arrested an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old who they allege are responsible for throwing rocks at moving vehicles in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville over the past few months.

In a news release on Friday, York Regional Police (YRP) announced the arrests of the two suspects following a months-long search.

Investigators said the earliest incident that was reported to them dates back to July. According to YRP, they are investigating 29 incidents, some including rocks being thrown at residences.

“The majority of these cases are still under investigation,” said YRP media relations officer Const. James Dickson.

The 18-year-old man has been charged with two counts of mischief under $5,000, while the 17-year-old faces one under $5,000.

Police said the 18-year-old was a youth at the time of the offence, so his and the other suspect’s identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Investigators anticipate more charges may be laid. Dickson confirmed that the suspects are not related but are known to each other.

It is not immediately clear if the two suspects are also responsible for similar incidents that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are separately investigating.

At least 11 incidents are being investigated by the OPP, most of which occurred on Highway 48 near Major Mackenzie Drive.

One of those incidents resulted in a serious collision that left two people with life-threatening injuries. In December, a GO bus carrying passengers was also hit by a rock, damaging its windshield.