Over the course of about nine hours Tuesday, Orillia OPP officers responded to three separate weapons-related incidents that resulted in the arrest of four people.
On Tuesday, just after 11 a.m., police responded to reports of a man walking on Barrie Road near Memorial Avenue with a firearm tucked into this waistband.
Officers located a male matching the description. He was with another male party, noted a media release from the Orillia OPP.
Officers observed what they believed to be firearm. Officers placed both parties under arrest and continued the investigation. It was later discovered the flare gun had been altered to operate as a legitimate firearm.
As a result, David Gurman, 35, of Orillia, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine.
Another Orillia man, Jake Marcellus, 24, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000) and possession of cocaine.
Both accused parties were held in custody for a bail hearing.
Later Tuesday, at about 4 p.m., officers from the Orillia OPP received numerous reports of a male party with a chainsaw on Mount St. Louis Road, near Teanaustaye Drive in Oro-Medonte Township.
The information received was the male party was using the chainsaw to cause damage to his vehicle and a nearby residence. Officers attended and were able to successfully gain control and arrest Steven Newdick, 40, of Cedar Point. He was charged with break and enter a place with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of mischief over $5,000 and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.
The accused was released on an undertaking with a future court date at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia.
On Tuesday evening, just before 8 p.m., Orillia OPP officers responded to a 911 call in the area of Line 14 in Oro-Medonte Township. Officers arrived and spoke with the male who had called 911.
After officers spoke with the male, and were about to leave, a female's voice could be heard yelling out for the officer's assistance as the man was in possession of a firearm and was pointing it at the officers, noted the media release. Officers were able to gain control of the male and successfully place him under arrest.
Carter Pautsch, 24, of Oro-Medonte Township has been charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, pointing a firearm, three counts of possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to a Prohibition Order, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, two counts of resisting a peace officer, uttering threats (cause death or bodily harm) and failure to complete with a Probation Order.
The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing.
