NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On Dec. 19, 2023, 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) continued this shooting investigation and executed a search warrant at Louth Street property in St. Catharines where the accused was located and arrested.
During the search of a house and a car the following items were seized:
- 176.5 g of suspected Fentanyl (estimated street value - $50,000)
- Drug trafficking paraphernalia
- $4,000 Canadian currency
- $225 American currency
- $100 Jamaican currency
- Offence related property (clothing)
- A sawed-off Stoeger shotgun.
- Glock 17 pistol and magazine
- Ammunition - 9mm and shotgun shells
- Collapsible Baton
As a result of the items seized during the search warrant; Taeshaun Haynes will be additionally charged with the criminal offences of:
- Careless Use of Firearm (Stoeger shotgun)
- Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Firearm (Stoeger shotgun)
- Possession of Prohibited Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (Stoeger shotgun)
- Possession of Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition (Stoeger shotgun)
- Tampering with Serial Number (Stoeger shotgun)
- Possession of Schedule I Substance (Fentanyl) for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
The accused Haynes was ordered held in custody following his Dec. 19, 2023, bail hearing. His next court date is Jan. 5, 2024.
On Dec. 21, 2023, detectives arrested Haynes’ girlfriend in Niagara Falls. Charlize Knott (19 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with criminal offences of:
- Obstructing Justice
- Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (Glock 17)
- Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (Stoeger shotgun)
- Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition (Glock 17)
- Careless Storage of a Firearm (Glock 17)
- Careless Storage of a Firearm (Stoeger shotgun)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle (Glock 17)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle (Stoeger shotgun)
- Tampering with Serial Number (Stoeger shotgun)
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance (Fentanyl) for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Knott was held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on Dec. 22, 2023.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009222.
Members of the public who wish to supply information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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