Gun Found in Hotel, Pair Charged

Police say a man and woman also charged with drug offences

Two people from the Toronto area have been arrested after a gun and drugs were found in a Niagara Falls hotel.

Officers were called yesterday to the Main and Ferry Street area, after cleaning staff found a gun in a recently vacated room, police soon found it was loaded.

The suspects had moved to another room in the hotel, but they were arrested and police found one had some crystal meth while at the police station.

A search of the hotel room found:

• 101.4 grams of suspected cocaine (estimated street value $12,168)
• 32.6 grams of suspected fentanyl (estimated street value $6,520)
• 15 pills of suspected morphine (estimated street value $75)
• 498 pills of suspected hydromorphone (estimated street value $7,470)
• 76 pills of suspected oxycodone (estimated street value $760)
• $3000 of Canadian Currency
• Ammunition
• Items consistent with the trafficking of drugs

Police say 27-year old Benjamin Shearer is charged with: 

• Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device
• Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence
• Possess Firearm Without Holding a Licence
• Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm
• Failing to Comply with Probation Order
• Possession of Firearm, Weapon, or Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order
• 2 Counts of Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
• 355(b) POSS OF PROCEEDS OF PROPERTY OBTAINED BY CRIME UNDER $5000 8
• 6 counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of Trafficking (Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Fentanyl, 2x Hydromorphone, Oxycodone)

30-year old Taylor Harrison is charged with:

• Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon or Prohibited Device
• Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence
• Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Without Holding a Licence
• Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm
• 2 Counts of Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained Crime Under $5000
• 5 Counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine, Fentanyl, 2x Hydromorphone, Oxycodone)

They had bail hearings today.