THUNDER BAY – Ontario Provincial Police have laid a litany of charges including attempted murder against a man accused of opening fire on police officers as they tried to stop his vehicle on Highway 11/17 near Hurkett, Ont. on Tuesday.
The list of alleged criminal offences includes three counts of attempted murder, and four counts of assaulting a peace officer.
Andrew Plummer, 34, of Brampton also faces a separate attempted murder charge in connection with a shooting that took place in Thunder Bay earlier Tuesday, the Thunder Bay Police Service announced Wednesday.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, the OPP said Plummer’s vehicle was located while officers were checking vehicles on Highway 11/17 at Davis Road, in the Hurkett area, part of a search launched after Thunder Bay police alerted the OPP they believed the suspect could be fleeing the city.
“During attempts to stop the vehicle, shots were fired at the officers, who engaged the individual and returned fire,” the OPP stated.
The vehicle then fled the scene and entered a ditch near Davis Road, the OPP said. The driver, who police identified as Plummer, then fled on foot and was arrested a short time later.
Noone was injured in the exchange of bullets, police said. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which has invoked its mandate to investigate the incident, also said there were no reported injuries in a statement earlier Wednesday.
Plummer has been charged with the following offences:
- Attempt to commit murder using a firearm sec. 239(1)(a)
- Attempt to commit murder sec. 239(1)(b) - three counts
- Assault a Peace Officer sec. 270(1)(a) - four counts
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm sec. 91(1)
- Dangerous Operation sec. 320.13(1)
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm sec. 95(a)
- Discharge a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner sec. 244.2(1)(a)
Police also apprehended and charged Drew McKenzie, 25, of Chatsworth, Ont., with being an occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm, contrary to section 94 of the Criminal Code, the OPP said.
Both suspects are being held for bail hearings at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay, OPP said.
Anyone with information relating to the investigation is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or submit anonymous tips at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or via ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
