Three men charged in downtown Ottawa gun seizure

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is laying a number of charges after it uncovered two guns (one of which was loaded) and some drugs during a traffic stop on Bank Street at Queen Street, downtown.

The stop happened on Friday around 1:40 p.m. and three people were arrested at the scene. 

Christopher Exume, 28, Karl Stivens, 29, and Joseph Niles, 57, all of Ottawa, were charged with: 

• Transporting a firearm carelessly (two counts)
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace (two counts)
• Carrying a concealed weapon (two counts)
• Unlicensed person possessing a prohibited weapon (two counts)
• Occupy a motor vehicle with firearm (two counts)
• Possession of a loaded regulated firearm (two counts)
• Possession of a firearm obtained by crime (two counts)
• Unlawful possession of a schedule 1 substance 

Niles was also charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (six counts) and Exume with breach of probation. 

They appeared in court over the weekend. 

The OPS says it's seized five guns since Friday and 28 guns since the beginning of 2020. 

It encourages all residents to report firearms offenses by contacting the Ottawa Police Guns and Gangs Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5050.  

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.