Pair arrested after OPP seize drugs and guns in Avalon

Police have arrested two people who are facing nearly a dozen drug and firearms offenses after executing a search warrant at a home in Ottawa’s east end.

Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team said they executed the search warrant on Thursday, January 4, at a residence on Promenade Decoeur Drive and found a loaded firearm, suspected cocaine, crack and hydromorphone.

OPP said they had support from the Ottawa Police Service Tactical Unit, Canine Unit and Neighbourhood Response Team.

Two children were present during the execution of the search warrant, according to Detective Inspector Lee Fulford of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

No injuries were reported.

Authorities said they had been investigating since November 2023 after learning a man who was barred from owning firearms was in possession of weapons and illegal drugs back.

Police said they seized the following:

• 72 grams of suspected cocaine;
• two grams of suspected crack cocaine;
• 42 suspected hydromorphone pills; and
• one loaded handgun with two magazines and a laser sight.

Jean-Marc Guindon, 26, and Katelyn Fortin, 25, both from Ottawa, have been charged with the following:

• Unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized.
• Possession of a loaded firearm.
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Guindon is also facing one charge of possessing a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order.

He is being held in custody and is set to appear in court on Tuesday while Fortin was released and will appear before an Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on February 6.