Crash in Thunder Bay leads to weapon charges for Brampton man

Police have charged a Brampton man with multiple firearm offences after a crash in Thunder Bay.

On Oct. 26, officers from the Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of a single vehicle collision on Hwy 11-17 in the Township of Dawson Road Lots.

Police were advised that one of the vehicle’s occupants was in possession of a handgun, and when officers arrived on scene they found two people in the vehicle suffering from minor injuries.

The passenger of the vehicle was placed under arrest and transported to hospital for further medical evaluation.

Police say they found a firearm on the scene, and the exact cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Nathaniel Joshua Matthews,23, of Brampton has been charged with eight offences including:

• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• Careless use of a firearm
• Discharge a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner
• Assault with a weapon
• Fail to comply with a release order

Matthews was held in custody for a bail hearing scheduled for Monday at the Thunder Bay Ontario Court of Justice.

The driver had not been charged at the time of this release.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by visiting ontariocrimestoppers.ca.