Photo courtesy OPP
Two Leeds County men face a combined 84 charges after Ontario Provincial Police seized more than 30 firearms from a residence.
Leeds County OPP said officers responded to a reported incident at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. An investigation was launched before the Leeds County Crime Unit took over the case.
Police said several specialized OPP units helped execute a search warrant, including the Emergency Response Team, Tactics and Rescue Unit, Canine Unit, Community Street Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Services.
Officers seized more than 30 firearms, including restricted and prohibited weapons. Police also recovered more than 50 firearms-related items, including ammunition and magazines, along with one crossbow.
A 72-year-old Leeds County man remains in custody. He has been charged with sexual assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition.
He also faces 26 counts of knowingly possessing an unauthorized firearm and 25 counts of possessing a firearm or ammunition while prohibited.
A second accused, a 69-year-old Leeds County man, was released from custody. He has been charged with 16 counts of careless storage, eight counts of possessing a firearm at an unauthorized location and six counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Police said the names of the accused cannot be released in order to protect the privacy of the victim.
Anyone with information about illegal firearms or drug activity is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the Ontario Crime Stoppers website.
