Two guns seized and arrests made after gunshots heard in Ridgemont area

Two Ottawa men are facing weapon-related charges after reports of shots fired on Grasmere Crescent, just east of Bank Street and south of Heron Road.

Officers were called to the Ridgemont neighbourhood around 1:30 a.m., Thursday, after the reported gunshots.

During their investigation, officers began searching for a vehicle that had fled the scene. A broadcast was put out to all officers on the road and the suspected vehicle was spotted by in the Montreal Road area and stopped.  

Two suspects were arrested and a search of the vehicle turned up two loaded handguns, one of which turned out to be a replica.

Michael Tountas, 28, of Ottawa, has been charged with:

• Possession of a weapon (2 counts)
• Occupy motor vehicle with firearm
• Possess loaded regulated firearm
• Possess restricted or prohibited firearm without holding a licence and registration certificate
• Possess restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a licence and registration certificate

Edward Joseph Theodore McGrath, 52, of Ottawa, has been charged with:

• Use firearm/commit indictable offence
• Use/handle/store firearm, etc. Carelessly
• Point a firearm
• Possess weapon, etc./dangerous to public peace
• Possess restricted or prohibited firearm without holding a licence and registration certificate
• Possess restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a licence and registration certificate
• Occupy motor vehicle with firearm, etc.
• Possess loaded regulated firearm
• Possess firearm, etc. While prohibited
• Common nuisance/endanger lives or safety of public
• Discharge firearm being reckless as to the life or safety of another person
• Uttering threats/death or bodily harm
• Assault

Tountas and McGrath were expected in court Thursday afternoon. 

Ottawa police have seized 15 illegal guns in 2019.