Two people have been charged after suspects fleeing a break-in in Fort Erie ended up with their car in a ditch.
Niagara Regional Police Service said on Feb. 3 at 9:54 p.m. officers assigned to Fort Erie received a third-party call regarding a single motor vehicle collision near Nicolas Street and Riselay Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers located a grey Toyota Prius in the ditch.
Neither the driver nor passenger sustained any injuries.
As officers were investigating the cause of the collision, a break and enter was reported to have occurred only minutes earlier from a nearby residential address.
Investigation has determined the occupants in the Prius committed the break and enter and upon fleeing the scene, lost control of the motor vehicle resulting in it becoming stuck in a nearby ditch. police said in a news release.
Officers recovered stolen property from the break and enter, police said.
In addition, two unloaded firearms were recovered that did not belong to the homeowners who were subject to the break and enter.
The driver, Adrian Paul Anthony De Barrons, 35, of Port Colborne, was arrested and is charged with:
- Break enter and commit - dwelling house
- Possession of a firearm other than a restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not licenced
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Transport firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition in a motor vehicle
- Possession of a firearm, weapon, or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
- Fail to comply with release order
- Fail to comply with probation order
The passenger, Lyle Steven Biljetina, 30, of Fort Erie, was arrested and charged with:
- Break enter and commit – dwelling house
- Possession of a firearm other than a restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not licenced
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Transport firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition in a motor vehicle
The pair were being held for a bail hearing scheduled to take place Saturday via video link to the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the lead detective by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009555.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
