Halton Regional Police have made three arrests in relation to carjackings that took place in Oakville earlier this year, including one incident that involved a shooting.
As a result Christopher Ugochukwu, 19, of Toronto, Merrick Beddaoui, 22, of Toronto and Chessen Johnston, 27, of Brampton have all been arrested and face multiple charges.
For more information, including the full lists of charges, see the press release below:
Three suspects responsible for carjackings that took place in Oakville on Feb. 26, and March 30, 2022 have been arrested.
The March 30 carjacking also involved a shooting and a media release outlining details of that incident is available on our website here.
After the two Oakville carjackings, investigators from the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) - 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) worked alongside officers from several partnering police services which resulted in two arrests.
On May 27, 2022, HRPS arrested Christopher Ugochukwu (19) of Toronto. On June 6, 2022, HRPS arrested Merrick Beddaoui (22), also of Toronto.
The pair are facing charges for a series of carjackings that took place throughout the GTA, including the two incidents in Oakville.
Ugochukwu is facing the following charges (for the Oakville occurrences):
- Disguise with Intent (2 counts)
- Robbery (2 counts)
- Possession of Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (over $5,000)
- Dangerous Operation
- Pointing a Firearm
- Discharge Firearm with Intent
- Careless Use of a Firearm
Beddaoui is facing the following charges (for the Oakville occurrences):
- Fail to comply Probation Order (4 counts)
- Robbery (2 counts)
- Disguise with Intent (2 counts)
- Dangerous Operation
- Possession of Property obtained by Crime (over $5,000)
On May 20, 2022, HRPS officers arrested 27 year-old Chessen Johnston of Brampton in Toronto. He is facing charges related to the investigation of the February 26 carjacking in Oakville. At the time of his arrest Johnston was in possession of a stolen vehicle and loaded 9mm handgun.
Johnston has been charged with the following:
- Robbery with a Firearm
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Fraud Under $5000
- Unauthorized Possession of Credit Card
- Failure to Comply with Probation Order
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Dangerous Operation
- Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
- Tampering with a Serial Number
- Possession Contrary to Prohibition Order
- Possession of a Controlled Substance - Oxycodone
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
- Fail to Comply with Release Order
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
All accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.
As a result of the increase in carjacking incidents across the Greater Toronto Area, local police services have combined resources and established a task force, dubbed Operation GTA, to further co-ordinate law enforcement efforts in combating these crimes. Carjackings are often violent and affect the larger community, as well as the victims involved. This collaborative approach targets the criminals committing carjackings as well as the organized criminal groups behind them.
The Halton Regional Police Service is a member of this task force, alongside York Regional Police, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Durham Regional Police Service, with the support of Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
