DRYDEN, ON — Four individuals arrested in Northwestern Ontario are being linked by police in Woodstock to a kidnapping and armed robbery investigation in the southwestern Ontario city.
The person who was allegedly abducted was a teen who was later released.
Dryden OPP announced Sunday that they had apprehended two men from Alberta and two from Manitoba after conducting a traffic stop west of Ignace for stunt driving on Highway 17.
A search of the vehicle turned up a loaded firearm, which resulted in multiple charges including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm.
Two of the accused were also charged with two counts of failure to comply with release orders.
The Woodstock Police Service issued a separate press release stating that four suspects in an armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred on Oct. 5 were arrested by Dryden OPP.
A spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to Dougall Media that warrants have also been issued for their arrest on charges related to that incident, in which a 15-year-old boy was abducted, driven to his home, and left in a field after a vehicle was stolen from the residence.
The youth was taken to hospital for assessment.
A fifth individual, also from Alberta, was arrested on Oct. 5 by officers from the Middlesex OPP detachment and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping while using a firearm, two counts of assault with a weapon, breaking into a dwelling house, and theft.
Police have said there is no evidence this was a targeted attack.
