9 guns seized, 7 arrests made in Mississauga and Brampton busts

Seven men were arrested and nine guns seized in a series of traffic stops by a specially trained squad of police officers in Mississauga and Brampton over the summer.

Members of the Peel Regional Police Strategic Tactical Enforcement Policing team, known as STEP, made the most-recent drug and gun busts on July 6 in Brampton and Mississauga, and Aug. 17 in Mississauga.

STEP officers patrol Peel streets in search of criminals who pose specific threats to the public, particularly threats that involve guns and other violence.

Since January, STEP cops have seized 24 illegal firearms and $300,000 in illegal drugs, arrested 28 people and laid 480 charges, police said in a news release issued Thursday.

“This includes the seizing and removal of five illegal firearms in July with an additional four firearms seized in an Aug. 17 investigation,” police said.

Peel police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said illegal guns pose a serious risk to the community. He added STEP officers, in addition to other strategies, are being used to fight that type of crime.

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“They are a talented group of officers committed to protecting our community’s safety and ensuring criminals are held accountable,” he said of the STEP team.

In the latest incidents, STEP officers investigated four vehicles between 8 and 11 p.m. on Aug. 17 on Northwest Drive in Mississauga, just steps north of Pearson Airport.

The cars were pulled over for alleged marijuana offences, police said.

From the traffic stops, police seized four guns — a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson M&P handgun, a loaded Ruger handgun, a loaded Glock 43X handgun and a loaded Springfield compact 40-calibre handgun.

Three men tried to flee from police on foot, but were caught. Two others were arrested as well.

Seven men face charges in a series of recent traffic stops in Mississauga and Brampton. (Photo: Peel Regional Police)

Traivon Grant, 32, of Mississauga, Fabian Stewart, 33, of North York, and Christopher Hayden, 45, Everal Hayden, 46, and Anthony Ewan, 31, all of Toronto, each face numerous firearms charges in addition to several other charges.

They were all held for bail hearings in Brampton court.

In the early morning hours of July 6, STEP officers made two arrests and seized five guns in separate incidents just over an hour apart.

In the first, a man was charged after police stopped a vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. near Queen Street East and Rutherford Road South in Brampton. Officers seized an illegal handgun with multiple rounds of ammunition, police said.

Tyrell Doyle, 33, of no fixed address, was charged with a number of firearms offences in addition to a drug offence.

He was held for a bail hearing in Brampton court.

Just over an hour later, police pulled over a vehicle at about 2:45 a.m. in the area of Airway Drive and Northwest Drive in Mississauga.

During their investigation of the passenger for alleged marijuana offences, officers found four illegal handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition. There was a brief foot chase before police made an arrest.

Reeke Jomaine Ellis, 40, of no fixed address, was charged with a number of firearms offences in addition to drug offences. He was also held for a bail hearing.

The investigation continues and police urge anyone with information to call them at 905-453-2121, ext. 3504, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.