The North Bay Police Service says it has arrested five men and seized drugs, a weapon and cash after responding to a robbery on McNamara Street in the city on July 16. Officers launched a broader investigation after responding to the robbery, initially identifying three suspects. Two were arrested July 16 -- one in the area of McLeod Street and Cedar Street, the second a few hours later in the area of McNamara Street. The remaining suspects were arrested July 17. “Investigators subsequently executed two search warrants, one at a residence in the 500 block of McNamara Street and another at a residence in the 400 block of McPhail Street,” police said in a news release July 22. “The searches resulted in the seizure of a quantity of illicit drugs believed to be intended for the purpose of trafficking, (cash), a firearm and ammunition.” Searches uncovered a 9mm handgun and ammunition. Police also found 38 grams of fentanyl, 354 grams of cocaine, three grams of crack with an estimated street value of $33,400 and $33,825 in cash. Charged with several drug trafficking, weapons and related offences are a 24-year-old man from Toronto, two men from Orangeville ages 42 and 26, and two men from North Bay ages 43 and 62. “This is the second firearm-related seizure within the past couple of months and another example of the guns and drugs that continue to plague our community, putting our residents and our officers at risk,” acting deputy chief Jeff Warner said in the news release. “We continue to see individuals from outside our region -- including the GTA -- peddle dangerous drugs on our street and bring illegal firearms into our neighbourhoods. This is not something we will accept or tolerate. Our street crime unit, working alongside policing partners across the province, continues to work tirelessly to identify these offenders, disrupt their operations, and hold them accountable.” The five suspects are being held in custody pending a bail hearing.
