Sault Ste. Marie police have charged three men with firearms offences after initially investigating reports of three men pushing a dirt bike down the road.
Further investigation eventually led police to a residence, where firearms and ammunition were discovered.
The full news release from the Sault Ste. Marie Police service follows:
On Jan. 26, 2023, officers in Patrol Services charged 53-year-old John Giuliani, 31-year-old Andrew Petts and 29-year-old Joshua Roess with firearm offences.
At 10:40 p.m. officers responded to reports of three people pushing a dirt bike down the road around Alexandra Street and Andrew Street. Upon arrival officers located the three people in front of a residence in the 0-100 block of Manilla Terrace with a dirt bike. Through the investigation officers developed grounds to believe the dirt bike was stolen. Officers knocked on the door of the residence several times before the three accused would let them in. Once inside, officers arrested the three accused.
Upon checking the residence to ensure no one else was inside, officers observed two firearms and ammunition in plain view. After seeing the weapons, officers requested and were granted a search warrant for the residence. Upon executing the search warrant, officers located two firearms and ammunition.
John Guiliani is charged with,
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Resisting Peace Officer
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon or Ammunition x3
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose x2
Andrew Petts is charged with,
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Breach of Probation x4
• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x3
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x2
• Knowingly Possession a Weapon or Prohibited Advice x2
• Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm, Weapon or Ammunition x3
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose x2
• Possession of Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x3
Joshua Roess is charged with,
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Breach of Probation – Failing to Keep the Peace and be of Good Behaviour
• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x18
• Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm, Weapon or Ammunition x2
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose x2
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x2
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x3
The three accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.