Two Ottawa residents face guns, drug charges after major bust in Echo Bay

A pair of Ottawa residents are facing numerous charges after a weapons call in Echo Bay on Thursday.

Shortly after 10 a.m., officers with the Sault Ste. Marie detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police responded to a call about an incident that happened on Jan. 1 (but wasn't reported to police until Thursday) at a residence on Highway 17B in Echo Bay.

Shortly after 3:30 a.m. today, officers with the OPP's Critical Incident Command, Tactics and Rescue Unit, Tactical Emergency Medical Service, Emergency Response Team, North East Region Canine Unit, Crisis Negotiators, Community Street Crime Unit and Sault Ste Marie Crime Unit were deployed to assist and executed a search warrant on the property.

The search led to the seizure of a Glock 19M pistol, a Glock magazine with 9mm rounds, drugs suspected to be cocaine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of $4,600, $3,940 in Canadian currency, six cell phones and drug paraphernalia.  

Rizwan Anwar, 23, of Ottawa is charged with:

• assault with a weapon
• possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• pointing a firearm
• possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
• unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm
• possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• possession of a schedule I substance - other drugs
• possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - cocaine

Dan Lezada, 23, of Ottawa is charged with:

• assault with a weapon
• possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• pointing a firearm
• possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
• uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm
• possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (two counts)
• possession of a schedule I substance - other drugs
• possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - cocaine

Both appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Video Bail in Sault Ste Marie today and were remanded into custody.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and both suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty.