THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Uniform Patrol Brach were dispatched to a reported assault in progress in the 500 block of South Syndicate Avenue just before 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 9, 2020.
No one involved in this incident was in the area when officers first arrived, however, an investigation revealed that individuals likely connected to the reported assault had fled to a nearby apartment building.
Inside this building, officers found water flowing from within a unit into the hallway from underneath the closed door. A loud commotion was also heard coming from within the unit, but there was no response to police inquiries.
Fireworks were then heard being set off inside this same apartment unit. This was followed by reports of a fire, and then a fire alarm being activated.
Firefighters with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue also responded to this incident.
As a result of an ongoing investigation, police learned the people inside the apartment unit were in possession of a large quantity of cash suspected to be obtained through criminal activity. The cash was seized and five people were arrested.
A 22-year-old woman, a 36-year-old woman, a 47-year-old woman, and a 36-year-old man, all from Thunder Bay, have been charged with Possession of Property obtained by Crime Over $5,000. A 27-year-old Toronto man has also been charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000.
The four accused who reside in Thunder Bay were released with future court dates. The Toronto man appeared in bail court Friday and was remanded into custody with a future appearance date.
The reported assault remains under investigation.
