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Charges laid in hostage-taking

Seven men have been charged following a hostage-taking situation at the Kenora Jail.
Kenora Jail 1
The Kenora Jail

KENORA, Ont. -- Ontario Provincial Police have laid a numerous charges against seven men following a hostage-taking at the Kenora Jail last month.

According to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, a correctional officer at the Kenora Jail was taken hostage by inmates on Sept. 14 around 1:19 p.m.

As a result of the investigation, seven men were arrested.

  • Patrick Kanate, 27, of North Caribou Lake First Nation, Ontario
  • Waylon Morton, 35, of Dryden, Ontario
  • Ryan Nickel, 31, of Dryden, Ontario
  • Travis Polkinghorne, 27, of Wabigoon, Ontario
  • Joshua Pitchenese, 27, of Wabigoon Lake First Nation, Ontario
  • Garnet Sumner, 30, of Peguis First Nation, Manitoba
  • Drayson Waswa, 19, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario

The charges include hostage taking, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, disarming a peace officer, unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a firearm, prohibited or restricted weapon obtained by crime and uttering threats-cause death or bodily harm.

All accused have been scheduled to attend court at a later date.

Kanate had previously been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the September 2010 death of his cousin, 25-year-old Keegan Williams, in Thunder Bay.




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