3 men arrested with drugs, handgun and stolen vehicle: Niagara police

Niagara police say they were able to nab three men and charge them with a slew of offences after they were caught driving a stolen vehicle with filled with drugs and a loaded handgun.

On Saturday, officers began looking for a grey Chevy Cruz that had been stolen near Elgin Street and Buttrey Street in the City of Niagara Falls.

Officers say that they tracked the vehicle down and commenced a traffic stop around 12 p.m.

Investigators say they arrested the driver and two occupants after it was revealed that both the vehicle and the plates on it had been stolen.

Following their arrest, a search of the vehicle ensued and authorities located a loaded .38 calibre Smith and Wesson handgun, as well as 80 grams of what they suspect to be carfentanil — an opiate similar to fentanyl that can be up to 100 times as strong.

As a result of their findings, police have laid charges against all three men.

Forty-two-year-old Andre Lafontaine of Niagara Falls, 42-year-old Ronald Vant of Welland and 33-year-old John McMullen of Hamilton are all facing a slew of charges, including:

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a licence
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without holding a licence
• Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition
• Careless storage of a firearm
• Possession of a schedule I substance for trafficking

Police say all three men were kept in custody and were scheduled to attend a video bail hearing on March 17.