Suspect charged after police seize loaded shotgun in St. Catharines

Niagara police have arrested a suspect who was allegedly trying to sell drugs while wearing a backpack with what appeared to be the handle of a shotgun sticking out.

Police responded to an armed person report at a parking lot on Welland Ave. near Geneva St. in St. Catharines just after 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Officers say a complainant was approached by a man who was offering to sell drugs and noticed the handle of a shotgun sticking out of his backpack. The complainant declined the offering of drugs and subsequently called police.

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Police arrested the man, who was found to be in possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, with five additional rounds of ammunition.

Zach Charles LeBlanc, 30, has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Firearm Other Than a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence
• Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Possession of a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Without Holding a Licence
• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device
• Fail to Comply with Probation Order
• Carrying Concealed Weapon

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009711.

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