**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

The Timmins Police Service has charged six local men with kidnapping and assault related offences stemming from a sequence of criminal occurrences which began at a local motel in Timmins on Thursday, February 13th.

Based on a conspiracy to harm a 21 year old Timmins resident linked to an alleged drug related dispute, a group of 5 men attended at a Timmins motel. Once on site, some of the men forced their way into one of the motel rooms and assaulted the victim, bound him with restraints, and took him from the scene against his will.

The man was brought to a remote location where he was further assaulted with a weapon by the men who took him captive.

The victim was eventually released from his captors later that same day and made his way to the Timmins and District Hospital for medical treatment for the injuries he had sustained while he was held captive.

The Timmins Police Service – Criminal Investigations Division, working in collaboration with the Timmins Police – Forensic Identifications Unit, completed a thorough investigation into the event.

Based on the outcome of the investigation, Patrick SHORTT, 28, of Timmins, was arrested yesterday with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police and has been charged with:
– Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Aggravated Assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Kidnapping contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Assault with A Weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
He remains in police custody awaiting a bail hearing slated for this morning at Provincial Court in Timmins to answer to the charges laid against him.

Additionally, Nathan CALDERWOOD, 20, Noah DUGUAY, 20, Joachim PERSAD, 20, and Paul Yves VACHON, 33, all of Timmins have been arrested and charged with respective counts of:
– Aggravated Assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Kidnapping contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.

VACHON is charged with an additional count of:
– Use Disguise with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
Each of these accused person have been released from police custody on the strength of respective release documents with strict conditions including that they attend at Provincial Court in Timmins on May 26th to answer to the charges laid against them.

A sixth man, Phillipe GASTONGUAY, 40, of Timmins, is currently wanted on the strength of an Arrest Warrant held by the Timmins Police Service in regards to his involvement in this occurrence which has resulted in the following charges to be laid against him:
– 2 counts of Aggravated Assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Kidnapping contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Assault with A Weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Sexual Assault With a Weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Use Disguise with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Utter Threats contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Fail To Comply with Probation Order contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada

Filed under: Local News