On April 11th, 2023, at 9:20am an officer assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) was on general patrol in the City of Niagara Falls when they observed a 2006 grey Chevrolet Avalanche travelling west on Monroe Street toward Franklin Avenue. A query of the vehicles licence plate returned “unattached” meaning it was not properly registered with the Ministry of Transportation. As a result, a traffic stop was conducted.
Immediately after initiating the traffic stop on Franklin Avenue both the driver and passenger of the vehicle exited and attempted to walk away. The driver was subsequently arrested for the aforementioned Highway Traffic Act offence and the passenger willfully returned to the vehicle. Search incident to arrest, 0.5 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine was located in the drivers pant pocket and 21.6 grams of suspected fentanyl was located inside the vehicle and on the ground from where both the driver and passenger exited. In addition, officers located various tools believed to be indicative of break-in instruments inside the vehicle including two-way handheld radios, flashlights, binoculars, and power tools.
Gerald Douglas CAINES (53 years) of Niagara Falls, who was the driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged with the following criminal / provincial offences:
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Prohibited
• Possession of Crystal Methamphetamine
• Possession of Break-In Instruments
• Owner Operate Motor Vehicle on a Highway – No Insurance
• Fail to Apply for Permit on Becoming Owner
• Use Plate Not Authorized for Vehicle
• Driving While Under Suspension
Matthew James Robert GRAHAM (41 years) of Niagara Falls, who was the passenger in the vehicle was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Break-In Instruments
Both CAINES and GRAHAM were released for custody on Form 10 Undertakings and are scheduled to appear at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in the City of St. Catharines on June 15th, 2023.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officer by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009558.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to 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.
Incident #23-36124