Posted on 02/11/2005 12:28:45 PM PST by NorthOf45
Police find arsenal of lethal weapons
U.S. police badges found in apartment
Rexdale man faces weapons charges
Bob Mitchell and Dale Anne Freed
Staff Reporters
February 11, 2005
HANS DERYK/TORONTO STAR - Police Supt. Ron Taverner, in white, displays weapons and ammunition, including a rifle with a sniper scope, that police seized from a Rexdale apartment this week. Badges from several U.S. police and security forces were also found.
A simple eviction for non-payment of rent led police to an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, as well as police badges from forces across the United States, in a Rexdale apartment.
Police found seven guns, including a high-powered rifle with a sniper scope, more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, including armour-piercing and hollow-point bullets, a set of handcuffs and numerous large knives on Wednesday morning during a search of a penthouse apartment on Islington Ave.
"This is an arsenal ... some very, very lethal weapons," said Toronto Police Supt. Ron Taverner yesterday at a news conference at 23 Division in north Etobicoke, where the weapons were displayed.
Also in the apartment, police said, were badges from various police and security forces in the U.S., including California, Virginia and Florida state troopers, the Pensacola, Fla. police, and Georgia State Police. There was a sergeant's badge from the Los Angeles Police Department as well as badges from security officers in Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Alabama and New Mexico. Also found were several badges from American volunteer fire departments in Indiana and North and South Carolina.
"We have managed to contact some of the forces," Taverner said.
"The California state troopers were so concerned that they have asked the FBI to come into the investigation."
An Ontario Provincial Police tactical officer's uniform was also found in the apartment, along with a gas mask and a small amount of explosives.
"I can't think of any reason why somebody would have these things," Taverner said. None of the weapons was loaded, police said.
The astounding discovery was made after officers with the Toronto Sheriff's department went to the apartment to execute an eviction notice on a female tenant Wednesday morning.
After seeing two gun cases at the apartment, they left immediately and contacted police, Taverner said. Uniformed officers arrived shortly thereafter, followed by officers from the major crime unit with a search warrant.
Taverner said a man, who allegedly lives in the apartment and arrived while the uniformed officers were waiting for the major crime unit, tried to pass himself off as a police officer from Prince Edward Island. Police said he produced a badge with his picture indicating that the identification had been issued by the Atlantic Academy, a legitimate police college in P.E.I.
Investigators with 23 Division's major crime unit said some of the weapons were legally owned by the man, while some were registered to other people.
Taverner said anyone who saw someone wearing the OPP tactical jacket and carrying any of the weapons would have no way to know he wasn't a real police officer.
"When you put all of this together, it could result in a dangerous situation if somebody was seen wearing this stuff," Taverner said.
Lawrence Stevens, 42, has been charged with seven counts of careless storage of a firearm, careless storage of ammunition, possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, personating a police officer, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
A source said last night that Stevens is a one-time soldier who was discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in the mid-1980s.
Lourinda Beaver, 38, has been charged with seven counts of careless storage of a firearm, careless storage of ammunition and possession of a prohibited weapon.
That's it and they call it an arsenal? That sounds like a weeknd at beer camp.
"including a rifle with a sniper scope"
Oh my! A SNIPER scope! The horror.
Typical b.s anti gun drivel.
To me, it's the pieces of identification that should be a concern. Are these more readily available than one would think?
Wonder if he managed to keep a straight face while saying this.
President Bush has a badge on a NYC transit cop who died 9/11. He's not a cop. Maybe the guy collects momentos?
So all of the wepaons were legal and registered, as well.
moose are hard to bring down
Tell me about it......
It's the damn antlers I tell ya!
His ownership of a weapon registered to someone else may not be legal, depending on local law.
And you can tell its a "sniper scope" because of the markings on the side:
"Police found seven guns, including a high-powered rifle with a sniper scope"
Also, 1000 rounds of ammo. Gad zooks!
7 guns, does not an arsenal make, nor does 1000 rounds of ammo.
Sheesh
I'd hate to see their reaction if they got a look inside my gun safe and my SUV's glove compartment.
Did they find an arsenal of non-lethal weapons as well?
7 guns and 1,000 rounds of ammo? That's a *start*, but it ain't an arsenal. Not even close.
All it said was that some of the weapons were registered to someone else. He may have simply been storing them. I don't think there was implied ownership.
Is it really illegal in some locales to store another persons wepaons? Question asked seriously, no sarcasm intended.
It looks like your Gun of the Month Club membership is beginning to drive you of of your house. You've got to watch out for the darn things; they can take over your whole house.
But the guy damaged his case bigtime when he tried to pass himself off as a cop. Now those badges aren't collector's items -- they are (demonstrated) tools for impersonating an officer.
The weapons don't bother me a bit. We usually clean more than that after a Saturday range session. But, the impersonation thing could mean the guy is really dangerous.
1,000 rounds of ammo is merely one leisurely evening on my Dillon XL650.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.