Gunpoint carjacking of woman followed by quick arrest of man in Mississauga

Police made a quick arrest earlier this week after a Mississauga woman was carjacked at gunpoint late at night in the city’s east end.

A 35-year-old Mississauga man is now facing robbery and weapons charges in the wake of the incident, which unfolded at about 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday night, according to Peel Regional Police.

Investigators say the woman, 34, was in a parking lot near Queen Frederica Drive and Bloor Street when a man armed with a gun approached her and demanded her vehicle.

“Fearing for her safety, the victim complied and the (man) drove away in her car,” police said in a news release on Friday. “The victim did not sustain any physical injuries as a result of the robbery.”

According to police, the “quick and coordinated efforts of investigators” from both the Peel police Central Robbery Bureau and a new Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force led to the arrest of a man a short time later and a short distance away from the carjacking.

Officers with the Peel police Tactical Unit were also in on the takedown and the man was taken into custody without incident, police said.

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Investigators recovered a replica gun and an edged weapon during the arrest.

The woman’s car was also recovered, police said.

Michael Birchall, 35, of Mississauga, is charged with robbery, use imitation firearm while committing an offence, possession of property obtained by crime (two counts), fail to comply with release order and breach of undertaking.

He appeared briefly in Brampton court for a bail hearing.

Map shows the area of a Dec. 19 armed carjacking in Mississauga’s east end.

The Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force was formed back in October in response to the rising number of carjackings in the GTA and is led by OPP and Toronto Police.

It also includes members of Peel police in addition to officers with York, Durham and Halton police forces and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.

“This collaborative approach aims to disrupt the networks responsible for violent and high-risk auto thefts and maximize enforcement efforts against criminal organizations,” Peel police said in Friday’s news release.

Anyone with information regarding Tuesday’s carjacking is asked to contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3410, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

(Cover photo: Peel Regional Police)