Arrests made in alleged abduction, robbery

Niagara police have arrested a man and woman believed to be responsible for the alleged robbing and kidnapping of a man in St. Catharines earlier this week during which a gun was fired.

Five other men were also arrested on drug charges as police raided a Niagara Falls hotel room in search of the robbery suspects.

Early Monday morning, Niagara Regional Police say a man was forcibly abducted in the area of Merritt Street and Oakdale Avenue and was taken to the

CIBC on Merritt Street.

Police said the captive was able to escape and that a firearm was discharged.

The victim sustained minor injuries in the robbery.

Police provided a description of the suspects, a man and woman believed to be in their 20s, who they said fled in silver 2012 Ford Fiesta.

Police at the time said the man was targeted by the assailants, and it was not a random incident.

On Tuesday, police say investigators determined the suspects were staying at a hotel in Niagara Falls. Police began monitoring their activities and were able to get a search warrant for two hotel rooms.

At around 5:35 a.m. Wednesday, police executed the search warrants and arrested seven people from the Greater Toronto Area.

Jonathan Kankam, 20, of Brampton, and Chi-Nirah Taylor, 20, of Toronto, are charged with robbery, kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle and aggravated assault.

The other five, Jevon Taylor,

20; Brandon Brown, 22; Javon Thompson, 21; Jamil Pennant,

19; and Damian Brown, 21; all from Brampton, have jointly been charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

In all, police say they seized $1,500 worth of drugs and $2,100 in Canadian currency.

Investigators determined the suspects were staying in a hotel in Niagara Falls