CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misidentified the firearm seized by police. It was a handgun.
Five people from Toronto — including a teenager — have been charged with a long list of drugs and firearms offences in connection with a fatal two-car collision on Highway 17 last week.
The crash occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on March 28, approximately 30 km south of Wawa, closing down a large portion of highway in both directions for most of the day.
At the time, the OPP confirmed that one person died in the collision.
But in a press release issued this afternoon, police revealed that the deadly crash triggered a much larger investigation.
A person in one of the vehicles had a loaded handgun, the OPP alleges — and a further search of the vehicle turned up $28,000 worth of suspected fentanyl.
Five people from Toronto were arrested and charged. It is not clear if the person who died was traveling in their vehicle or the other one.
Tafary Church, a 21-year-old from North York, is charged with:
- Possession of loaded prohibited firearm
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Breach of firearms regulation - transport firearm
- Possession of prohibited device
- Possession of firearm contrary to prohibition order
- Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Opioid
- Fail to comply with probation order - three counts
Hanad Hassan, an 18-year-old from Scarborough, is charged with:
- Possession of loaded prohibited firearm
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Breach of firearms regulation - transport firearm
- Possession of prohibited device
- Possession of firearm contrary to prohibition order
- Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Opioid
- Fail to comply with probation order - two counts
Tyler Manbauman, a 21-year-old from North York, is charged with:
- Possession of loaded prohibited firearm
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Breach of firearms regulation - transport firearm
- Possession of prohibited device
- Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Opioid
All three were remanded into custody for bail hearings and remain in jail.
Sarah Wayezi, a 21-year-old from Toronto, is charged with:
- Possession of loaded prohibited firearm
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Breach of firearms regulation - transport firearm
- Possession of prohibited device
- Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Opioid
Wayezi was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in May 2024.
A 17-year-old from Etobicoke is charged with:
- Possession of loaded prohibited firearm
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Breach of firearms regulation - transport firearm
- Possession of prohibited device
- Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Opioid
- Fail to comply with undertaking - two counts
- Fail to comply with release order - two counts
The youth was remanded into custody for a bail hearing and remains in custody. The teen's identity cannot be published under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
None of the allegations against any of the accused have been tested in court, and all are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.