On May 26th, 2023, at 8:34pm Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers assigned to 3 District (Welland / Pelham) responded to the intersection of East Main Street near Duncan Street, in the City of Welland regarding a motor vehicle collision.
Upon arrival, officers learned that a white 2015 Nissan Versa bearing Ontario registration #CVPE348 was driving erratically on East Main Street when it collided with a 2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The two occupants of the Nissan Versa fled the collision scene on foot and were tracked to a nearby residence located on Crowland Avenue near York Street, in the City of Welland. Both occupants were located and placed under arrest.
As this was occurring, an independent witness came forward and reported that the two occupants of the Nissan Versa were seen shooting at and attempting to run over two unknown male individuals riding BMX bicycles prior to the collision. The unknown cyclists have yet to be identified and are encouraged by detectives to come forward.
As a result of the information surrounding the involvement of a firearm, detectives assigned to the 3 District Criminal Investigative Branch immediately assumed carriage of the investigation. Judicial authorization was sought, and two search warrants were obtained. The first was executed on the Crowland Avenue residence and resulted in the recovery of a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun and a single shot .22 caliber credit card sized firearm. A third suspect, who was inside the residence at the time of the search warrant was also arrested. The second search warrant was executed on the seized Nissan Versa and resulted in the recovery of two pellet guns, pellets, and dog repellent.
Harry James Robert HIGSON (35 years) of Welland, who was inside the residence at the time of the search warrant, was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device (2 counts)
• Unauthorized possession of a non-restricted firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
The two male occupants who were inside the Nissan Versa and located at the Crowland Avenue address before being arrested are 17 years and 16 years of age. The Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits the Niagara Regional Police Service from providing their identifying information.
The 17-year-old male youth from the City of Welland has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device (2 counts)
• Careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Unauthorized possession of a non-restricted firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Fail to stop at the scene of an accident
• Assault with a weapon (2 counts)
• Possession of a weapon
• Pointing a firearm
The 16-year-old male youth from the City of Welland has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
• Careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Possession of a weapon
• Pointing a firearm
HIGSON was released on a Form 10 Undertaking and is scheduled to attend the Welland Courthouse, located at 102 East Main Street, in the City of Welland on August 11th, 2023. Both the 17-year-old and 16-year-old youths were remanded into the custody of Ontario Correctional Services at a bail hearing that took place on May 27th, 2023, via video link to the John Sopinka Courthouse, located at 45 Main Street East in the City of Hamilton.
Area residents and businesses are encouraged to review their CCTV footage for imagery that may assist in this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead detective by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009318.
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.
Incident #23-55125