Accused wanted on previous incident April 19
M’CHIGEENG—Shortly before 7 pm on Monday, June 3, UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the OPP Tactical Rescue Unit (TRU) executed a search warrant at apartment 1-36 Tikmeg Road, M’Chigeeng First Nation. The female resident of that apartment, Sarah Migwans Bayer, 23, surrendered to police and was taken into custody.
During the search Mitchell Osama Gillingham, 33, of Windsor, was arrested following lengthy negotiations with police. Police located the male suspect in the attic with a handgun. Neighbours were evacuated for their safety and residents in homes in the surrounding block were asked to shelter in place. The subject attempted to evade police by breaking through the attics of neighbouring units. However, through negotiation, Mr. Gillingham was arrested without serious injuries to himself or police.
The housing complex at 36 Tikmeg Road had to be shut down and residents temporarily displaced from their homes. Subsequent search warrants executed on June 5 located a loaded handgun and what police believe to be over four ounces of fentanyl and over two ounces of cocaine, all in the attic area. Unfortunately, due to the actions of the accused parties, the entire housing complex sustained extensive damage while police tried to remove Mr. Gillingham from the attic area to affect a safe arrest.
“This event has caused concern, trauma and worry to the children and residents in the immediate neighbourhood as well as the community of M’Chigeeng at large,” said James Killeen, Chief of Police for UCCM APS. “It is becoming increasingly frequent that investigations and situations such as this are occurring. We are challenging all community agencies and citizens to come together and develop a comprehensive community action plan in combating the epidemic of illicit drug use and the violence that comes with it. We all play important roles in curbing the violence and social disparity of the illicit drug problem.”
This operation followed a previous incident on April 19, 2024, when UCCM Police were called regarding an unwanted person at a residence in M’Chigeeng. During that incident, a firearm was pointed at the victim. The accused was initially believed to be in the residence. The UCCM crime unit and the OPP Community Street Crime Unit were activated at that time, and a comprehensive search was conducted with the assistance of the OPP ERT, critical incident command unit, crisis negotiators, TRU and K9 unit.
Mr. Gillingham was arrested on a previous arrest warrant with the following offences under the Canada Criminal Code stemming from the April 19 incident: pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon, careless use of a firearm, weapons, prohibited device, or ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Following the June 3 incident, Mr. Gillingham was further charged with the following offences: careless use of firearm, carrying a firearm in a careless manner, pointing a firearm, weapons dangerous, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, two counts of failure to comply with firearm prohibition order, common nuisance-endanger life, four counts of break and enter, mischief over $5,000 to the entire apartment complex of 36 Tikmeg Road, M’Chigeeng, possession of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking, possession of fentanyl for the purposes of trafficking.
Ms. Migwans-Bayer has been charged with the following offences: obstruct justice, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, common nuisance- endanger life, possession of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking, possession of fentanyl for the purposes of trafficking.
Chief of Police Killeen said, “The OPP Anishnaabe Police would like to thank their OPP partners for their support over this entire operation. The OPP’s commitment to assisting UCCM in serious incidents has been unwavering and truly appreciated by everyone involved. UCCM Police would also like to thank everyone that came forward with information regarding these individuals. It is unfortunate that some members of our community knowingly harbour dangerous armed individuals and mislead the police in their attempts to apprehend these individuals. Harboring wanted criminals in your residences allows criminal activity to continue while negatively impacting many community members suffering the residual crimes that are proliferated through drug trafficking and organized crime.”
If anyone has further information regarding this incident, please contact either UCCM Police at 705-377-7135, or Sudbury Rainbow Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit an online tip at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com. Together we can make a difference.
