Third Ottawa man charged in Thunder Bay kidnapping

A third Ottawa man has been charged in connection with the kidnapping of a youth in Thunder Bay.

The suspect, whom police would not name, is facing charges for kidnapping, assault, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and noncompliance with a probation order.

A 17-year-old is alleged to have been kidnapped from a residence in the northwestern Ontario city on Saturday and taken to another residence where he was assaulted and held until Monday, according to a news release issued by Thunder Bay police on Tuesday. Police said they saw the 17-year-old being removed from a pickup truck just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

The man most recently charged was arrested Monday at a residence in the 200 block of Donald Street East, where investigators seized a handgun along with ammunition. He is scheduled to appear in court next Friday.

“These recent incidents and arrests underscore an ongoing threat to our community. Drugs continue to flow into Thunder Bay, to perpetuate suffering and profit criminal organizations,” said a news release issued by police Friday.

“This latest criminal enterprise, with origins outside of our jurisdiction, has raised the stakes by introducing more weapons and violence. While some may view drug dealing as an activity limited to a criminal subculture, we are running a real risk of this activity impacting public safety.”

The two other Ottawa men, Mohamed Ahmed Ali, 22, and Juan Pulido, 22, were charged on Tuesday with kidnapping and other charges.

Another man, 23-year-old Jaymz Keir Perry Hancock from Thunder Bay, was also arrested in connection with the kidnapping.