On May 31st, 2023, at 5:16pm Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) responded to a commercial business parking lot located on Welland Avenue near Geneva Street, in the City of St. Catharines regarding an armed person.
Information provided by the complainant was that they were approached by the suspect who was offering to sell drugs. The suspect was wearing a backpack with what appeared to be the handle of a shotgun sticking out. The complainant declined the offering of drugs and subsequently contacted police.
Officers arrived on scene and located the suspect. As reported, officers observed what appeared to be the handle of a shotgun sticking out of the suspects backpack. The suspect was arrested and found to be in possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun with an additional five rounds of ammunition.
Zach Charles LEBLANC (30 years) has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
• 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
LEBLANC remains in police custody and is being held for a bail hearing scheduled to take place later today (June 1st, 2023) via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in the City of St. Catharines.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead detective by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009711 with any relevant information.
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 #23-57427