Police were patrolling the area of Dorchester Road and Thoroldstone Road early yesterday morning when they saw a car parked in an accessible parking spot in front of a convenience store - but it wasn't displaying an accessible parking permit.
After investigating, police found that the license plate attached to the car was stolen.
The three occupants were arrested. That's when police found a prohibited weapon and ammunition.
Stephanie L. McLaughlin (27 years old) of Niagara Falls is charged with the alleged offences of:
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm in a vehicle
- Possess a prohibited firearm without a licence
Scott James Joseph Balcombe (24 years old) of Niagara Falls is charged with the alleged offences of:
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm in a vehicle
- Possess a prohibited firearm without a licence
- Possession of Schedule I substance (fentanyl)
Stephan A. Johns (27 years old) of no fixed abode is charged with the alleged offences of:
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm in a vehicle
- Possess a prohibited firearm without a licence
- Unauthorized possession of prohibited device in a vehicle
- Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
All three persons were held in custody to attend a bail hear on December 14, 2018, at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.