Police dog injured after loaded gun goes off during post-arrest search in Ontario
Police in Halton Region say a search dog was injured earlier this week after finding a loaded firearm during a post-arrest search in Burlington, Ont.
Investigators say the gun went off after Freddy the police dog's paw came into contact with it in a wooded area of Sherwood Forest Park, where they say a carjacking suspect discarded it.
Police say two people in a grey Chevy pick-up truck followed a female victim driving a Porsche Macan in the area of Guelph Line and Derry Road late afternoon on Wednesday.
They say both were wearing masks and pointing handguns as they approached the victim after she pulled over in a school parking lot.
Investigators say the victim surrendered her Porsche and the accused fled the area, driving both vehicles away.
They say both vehicles were located around an hour later, and the suspects were arrested Thursday afternoon at two different locations. They face a slew of charges.
Police say Freddy is 'expected to fully recover' after he was treated for an injury on his foot.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
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Toronto Sun
20 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: Two Halton K9 cops hailed for heroic carjacking collars
Unfortunately, one of the police dogs suffered a gunshot wound to his paw – but he's expected to make a full recovery Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox K9 cop Freddy, who has been a Halton regional Police officer for five years, was wounded in the line of duty in Burlington while recovering a gun allegedly used in a carjacking on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by Handout / Halton Regional Police It was a Dog Day Afternoon on Wednesday when courageous Halton K9 officer Freddy was shot during the apprehension of two carjacking suspects and the seizure of a loaded gun in Burlington. This was no movie – but it certainly could be. 'Freddy was shot in the paw,' Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner said Friday. 'Veterinarians did an amazing job patching him up and he is expected to fully recover.' 'It was such a high-risk situation for Freddy, his partner and the other officers,' the region's top cop added. Consts. Ryan Anderson and Jeff Dillon made the point that if Freddy didn't locate this gun, it would still be in the park – perhaps a child or passerby would have found the firearm to stepped on it. 'This was scary,' Tanner said. 'The bullet could have easily killed Freddy or his handler. This was a close call.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Two Arrested Following Burlington Carjacking The HRPS has arrested two violent offenders, seized firearms, and laid multiple criminal charges following a carjacking investigation in north Burlington. A Police Service Dog sustained an injury during a related search but is… — Halton Police (@HaltonPolice) June 27, 2025 It was incredible police work. Both of the accused have previously had serious run-ins with the law – one is on parole for a manslaughter and the other for firearms offences. A second K9 officer named Blue was also involved in the pursuit of the accused just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and assisted in one of the arrests. In Freddy's case, he found a firearm that was allegedly used in a gunpoint carjacking. Both German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois crosses, these two K9 cops are the heroes in this story – one for helping track down a suspect and making an arrest, the other for locating the gun alleged used in a carjacking. 'The police dogs and their handlers are heroes,' Tanner said. The risk of going up against potentially dangerous criminals is immense. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Freddy found the gun in some brush and alerted his handler,' Tanner said, explaining the firearm had been dumped. 'It tuns out it was loaded,' he added. K9 cop Freddy, who has been a Halton regional Police officer for five years, was wounded in the line of duty in Burlington while recovering a gun allegedly used in a carjacking on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by Handout / Halton Regional Police It all started with two carjackers attempting to steal a woman's a Porsche. The woman was driving her Porsche Macan in the area of Guelph Ln. and Derry Rd. when she became 'concerned' and noticed she was 'being followed' by an allegedly stolen grey Chevrolet pickup truck, police said. 'The victim pulled into the parking lot of Kilbride Public School where two masked men each armed with a handgun exited the suspect vehicle pointing the handguns at her,' cops explained. Police said officers began searching and found the victim's Porsche, and the pickup, abandoned and in a parking lot near Tobyn and Kilmer Drs. in Burlington. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Two suspects were subsequently identified and located shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday in the area of Walkers Ln. and Kilmer Dr. One man was found walking and the other man was allegedly found in a stolen Volkswagen SUV. James Garthwaite, 33, of Burlington, is seen in a 2017 police news release after his arrest for the deadly shooting of Dana Camber during a home invasion in Barrie. Photo by Handout / Barrie Police James Garthwaite, 33, of Burlington, is charged with robbery with a firearm, pointing a firearm, motor vehicle theft when violence used, unauthorized possession of a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent, fentanyl and crystal meth trafficking, and two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm. Garthwaite was convicted of manslaughter seven years ago for a 2017 armed home invasion where innocent Dana Camber was 'shot and killed' in Barrie. He was sentenced to 10 years but released early after receiving 16 months of credit for pre-sentence custody. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At the time of Wednesday's carjacking, Garthwaite was out on statutory parole. Dana Camber, 50, was shot to death during a home invasion in Barrie on March 14, 2017. Photo by Handout William Langdon, 32, of Oakville, faces the same offences but he is additionally charged with 'failing to comply being on a release order' and 'failing to comply with two counts of (violating) a probation order' stemming from firearms convictions. 'I cannot imagine the fear experienced by the victim during this violent and terrifying armed carjacking,' Tanner said. 'On behalf of the Halton Regional Police Service, I extend my thoughts to her and her family during this incredibly traumatic time.' Halton Chief of Police Steve Tanner What an ugly mess. It had all the elements and potential for another woman to die, not to mention a police officer and a police dog. A inch here or a press of a trigger there and this could have ended far worse. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I am deeply concerned by the escalating level of violence and the use of loaded firearms in the commission of these crimes,' an outraged Tanner said. 'Let me be perfectly clear – this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our community.' 'If convicted, I am hopeful the courts will impose substantial sentences that reflect the serious and dangerous nature of these offences,' the Chief added. Read More Halton has the 'not in our town' motto and they will risk death to try to achieve that and protect their citizens. These two accused remained in custody on Friday awaiting a bail hearing – again. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are appreciative of the collective efforts and collaboration of many internal and external personnel who worked tirelessly, quickly and effectively to get violent offenders and several firearms off our streets,' said Supt. Dave Costantini, of 3 District Burlington. 'We are equally grateful for our tenacious PSD Freddy and look forward to his full recovery.' Freddy, who has been a K9 cop for five years, has been given the weekend off – actually he's been given all the time he needs. Give both law enforcement hounds extra biscuits! They've earned it! 'We are proud of Freddy, Blue and the whole team,' Tanner said. 'They are all amazing police officers.' jwarmington@ Music Canada Toronto & GTA Crime Toronto Raptors
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police dog injured after loaded gun goes off during post-arrest search in Ontario
Police in Halton Region say a search dog was injured earlier this week after finding a loaded firearm during a post-arrest search in Burlington, Ont. Investigators say the gun went off after Freddy the police dog's paw came into contact with it in a wooded area of Sherwood Forest Park, where they say a carjacking suspect discarded it. Police say two people in a grey Chevy pick-up truck followed a female victim driving a Porsche Macan in the area of Guelph Line and Derry Road late afternoon on Wednesday. They say both were wearing masks and pointing handguns as they approached the victim after she pulled over in a school parking lot. Investigators say the victim surrendered her Porsche and the accused fled the area, driving both vehicles away. They say both vehicles were located around an hour later, and the suspects were arrested Thursday afternoon at two different locations. They face a slew of charges. Police say Freddy is 'expected to fully recover' after he was treated for an injury on his foot. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Man on statutory release for manslaughter among 2 suspects charged in Burlington gunpoint carjacking
Guns and ammunition seized in connection with a carjacking investigation in Burlington. (Halton Regional Police) A man out on statutory release for manslaughter is among the two people charged in connection with a gunpoint carjacking of a luxury vehicle in Burlington this week. Halton Regional Police said a woman was driving her Porsche Macan near Guelph Line and Derry Road around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday when she observed a grey Chevrolet pickup truck following her. She pulled into the parking lot of Kilbride Public School, where two masked men got out of the pickup and pointed their handguns at her, police said. The woman exited her Porsche and surrendered the vehicle. The suspects took the vehicle and drove it away in tandem with the pickup. Police said the victim was not injured. Officers responded, and an hour later, they located the Porsche abandoned and unoccupied in the parking lot near Tobyn and Kilmer drives. They later found the pickup truck nearby, police said. The two suspects were subsequently identified, and on Thursday, police located them in the area of Walkers Line and Kilmer Drive. One suspect was quickly apprehended, while the other fled in a Volkswagen SUV. However, police shortly tracked the vehicle in Sherwood Forest Park and arrested the second suspect. They have been identified as 33-year-old James Garthwaite from Burlington and 32-year-old William Langdon from Oakville. Investigators searched the pickup truck and a Burlington residence, where they allegedly found items of evidentiary value, including a 3D printer, 3D printed firearms and a vehicle reprogramming device. They also determined that the pickup was stolen out of the Niagara Region. Both men are facing a combined 20 charges, including robbery with a firearm, motor vehicle theft when violence is used, unauthorized possession of a weapon, and disguise with intent. 'I cannot imagine the fear experienced by the victim during this violent and terrifying armed carjacking. On behalf of the Halton Regional Police Service, I extend my thoughts to her and her family during this incredibly traumatic time,' Halton police Chief Stephen Tanner said in a statement. 'I am deeply concerned by the escalating level of violence and the use of loaded firearms in the commission of these crimes. Let me be perfectly clear—this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our community. If convicted, I am hopeful the courts will impose substantial sentences that reflect the serious and dangerous nature of these offences.' Police said at the time of their arrests, Garthwaite was on federal statutory release. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2018 for a shooting during a home invasion that left a woman dead. 'He was sentenced to 10 years but released early after receiving 16 months of credit for pre-sentence custody,' Tanner said. Meanwhile, Langdon was on a form of release for unrelated firearms offences. Police said there is an ongoing investigation into the 3D-printed firearms that could result in more charges. Police dog injured during search Freddy Halton police dog Freddy is seen in this undated photo. (Supplied) During the post-arrest article search in Sherwood Forest Park, Halton police dog Freddy came in contact with a loaded firearm that Langdon allegedly discarded. 'The firearm was located in an area of heavy brush and discharged, resulting in Freddy sustaining an injury to his foot,' police said. Freddy was treated and is expected to make a full recovery. 'We are appreciative of the collective efforts and collaboration of many internal and external personnel who worked tirelessly, quickly and effectively to get violent offenders and several firearms off our streets. We are equally grateful for our tenacious PSD Freddy and look forward to his full recovery,' Supt. Dave Costantini of 3 District Burlington said.
