Team Effort Leads to The Seizure of Drugs and Guns
The Sarnia Police Service Vice Unit had been conducting an investigation that had commenced in August of 2020 and concluded yesterday. Vice officers were investigating individuals that were believed to be trafficking cocaine and fentanyl into the City of Sarnia and also to be in possession of firearms.
On Tuesday, February 2, 2021, Vice officers, along with members of the Sarnia Police Service COPPs Unit and Emergency Response Team, were conducting surveillance of the suspects and their vehicle as they attended various locations within the City of Sarnia. At approximately 10:35 AM, an attempt was made to stop the vehicle in the area of Indian Road and Exmouth Street with the assistance of uniformed COPPs Unit officers while the suspect vehicle was stopped at a red light in the left turn lane on Exmouth Street.
As officers approached the vehicle it proceeded to run the red light and head northbound on Indian Road and then proceeded onto the 402 eastbound. Officers followed the vehicle which exited onto Modeland Road northbound, travelling at high speeds and weaving in and out of traffic. The pursuit of the vehicle was called off by officers out of concern for public safety and the suspects were last seen in the area of Modeland Road and Lakeshore Road.
Fortunately, and thanks to a member of the public, a witness observed the suspect vehicle stop in the area of Braemar Lane and that the occupants were walking away. The witness immediately contacted the Sarnia Police.
Officers from the Vice Unit, COPPS Unit, Emergency Response Team, OPP Canine, and General Patrol descended upon the area and arrested the two suspects in question which were found a short distance away.
During a search of the vehicle and suspects, officers located the following items:
Three handguns (one with a round in the chamber and a loaded magazine, one with a loaded magazine but nothing in the chamber, and one that was unloaded)
Various handgun magazines
Drug paraphernalia
$7530.00 in cash
16.1 grams of cocaine with a street value of $1610.00
13.05 grams of fentanyl with a street value of $6525.00
The first accused, Nicholas Augustus Persaud, 25 years of age, of the Greater Toronto Area, faces the following charges:
30 counts of various firearm and weapon related charges
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
Flight from police
Two counts of possession of a Schedule I Substance
Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order
The second accused is a Justin Shemar Sattaur, 24 years of age, of the greater Toronto Area, faces the following charges:
30 counts of various firearm and weapon related charges
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
Flight from police
Two counts of possession of a Schedule I Substance
Failure to comply with a release order
Both suspects remain in custody pending a bail hearing later today.