Guns found after pair evicted from Wallaceburg home

Chatham-Kent police cruiser in Chatham, Ont., on Thursday, June 16, 2022. (Submitted to CTV News Windsor)

Chatham-Kent police have charged a man and are searching for a woman after guns were discovered in a home following their eviction.

On Feb. 24, police were called to stand by and keep the peace as a homeowner searched their Wallaceburg residence after the eviction of the man and woman.

While present, officers discovered two firearms hidden between the mattress and headboard of the bedroom. Police say both firearms were found without the required safety locks, and upon further inspection, one was identified as a prohibited weapon due to alterations made to it.

Police say a subsequent query with the Canadian Firearms Registry revealed that neither the man nor the woman held valid firearms licenses.

Further investigation revealed the man was bound by a Prohibition Order that had been imposed in March 2023, prohibiting him from possessing any firearms or ammunition for life.

Despite efforts by the police to locate them, both parties remained at large. A warrant was issued for their arrest.

On April 29, the man was located and arrested on Duncan Street in Wallaceburg. He is currently being held at police headquarters pending a bail hearing.

The 39-year-old Chatham-Kent man now faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, including:

Unauthorized possession of a firearm

Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm

Possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized

Possession of a prohibited firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized

Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition

Tampering with a serial number

Careless storage of a firearm X 2

Possession contrary to a prohibition order X 4

The 40-year-old Chatham-Kent woman remains on the wanted list.