2 people charged in Rexdale kidnapping, home invasion investigation

Two people are facing a host of charges linked to an alleged kidnapping and home invasion in Rexdale, Toronto police say — and now, investigators are searching for two more suspects.

Police were first called about a person with a gun in the Martin Grove Road and John Garland Boulevard area around 12:48 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a police news release.

Investigators say that a victim arrived at a home in a red Honda Civic when another vehicle pulled up behind them with four people inside.

Three people from the second car then approached the victim while one pulled out a gun, according to the news release. They then forced the victim into the back seat of his own car and drove away with the second vehicle alongside.

The group drove around for roughly an hour, holding the victim at gunpoint and making demands, police say. After they returned to the home, the homeowner approached the vehicles in the driveway and both victims were forced inside the home.

A third victim, who was inside at the time, woke up and all three people were held at gunpoint, police say, before a suspect produced a shotgun and demanded valuables.

The suspects then grabbed cash, jewellery, electronics, cannabis, cash, and car keys before taking off in both of the victims’ vehicles, alongside the car they drove up in, according to the news release.

Then around 1:45 a.m. that same morning, officers saw both stolen vehicles near Highway 401 and Weston Road.

Police blocked in one of the stolen cars and a lone suspect got out and attempted to run off, before pulling out a gun and pointing it at the officers, police say.

The suspect was “safely taken into custody,” according to the news release, and a loaded handgun was seized.

Shortly after, the other stolen vehicle was tracked to a dead-end street in the area of Albion Road and Islington Avenue. Investigators say the suspect charged at a scout car in the stolen Ford F-150 before speeding off.

Officers later found the truck in the area of St. Clair Avenue W. and Runnymede Road. Another suspect was taken into custody after a short foot chase, police say.

A 35-year-old Toronto man now faces 10 charges, including kidnapping, robbery with a firearm and theft of a motor vehicle with violence.

Similarly, a 30-year-old Toronto man is facing 13 charges, including kidnapping, breaking and entering and failing to comply with a release order.

Police say they are still searching for the other two suspects and are asking anyone with information or security/dash-cam footage to contact them.