Chaos erupted in the streets of Brampton on Thursday afternoon as an armed carjacking unfolded, culminating in a high-speed car chase involving stolen vehicles and a daring escape on foot.
November 25 – The incident took place at 2:00 p.m. in a parking lot near Biscayne Crescent and First Gulf Boulevard in Brampton. A 43-year-old man from King City, Ontario, had arranged to sell his prized 2022 Mercedes G Wagon to a potential buyer. Little did he know that this seemingly routine transaction would turn into a harrowing ordeal.
Two suspects, now identified as 19-year-old Naman Singh from Brampton and 27-year-old Henry Pazer from Mississauga, arrived at the scene. One of them menacingly brandished a firearm, demanding the victim’s car keys. Fearing for his life, the victim complied, handing over the keys as the criminals seized the opportunity to flee the scene.
However, the swift response from Peel Regional Police’s Central Robbery Bureau (CRB) and the collaboration of various law enforcement units would turn the tide.
The suspects led police on a frenzied car chase through the city, with officers from the Tactical Unit and the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) joining the pursuit. A York Regional Police helicopter hovered above, casting an ominous shadow on the unfolding drama.
The high-stakes car chase reached its climax at Weston Road and Highway 401, where the stolen G Wagon rendezvoused with an F-150 truck. In a bold attempt to evade capture, the G Wagon intentionally collided with a police vehicle, creating a moment of chaos. Tactical Unit officers managed to apprehend the occupants of the F-150, but the drama was far from over.
Undeterred, the suspect driver abandoned the stolen G Wagon a short distance away, opting for a daring escape on foot. In a shocking turn of events, he committed a second carjacking, seizing control of a white Honda Odyssey van and disappearing into the urban maze.
Naman Singh, the 19-year-old suspect from Brampton, faces charges of robbery and was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. On the other hand, Henry Pazer, the 27-year-old accomplice from Mississauga, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime. He was released with a court appearance scheduled for a later date.
The investigation is far from concluded, and authorities anticipate further arrests as they delve deeper into the web of criminal activity.
In response to the escalating incidents of violence tied to auto crimes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), local police services have united their resources. The newly established Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF), co-led by the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police, aims to disrupt criminal networks responsible for these daring and dangerous acts.
“Canada is now a source country of stolen autos, and it has become the third largest revenue source for organized crime,” warned Chief Nishan Duraiappah of Peel Regional Police. “Peel Regional Police will continue to invest and dedicate more resources to make more arrests, prevent more auto thefts, and recover more cars.”
In a significant move to address the rising threat of auto thefts in Peel Region, the Ontario Provincial Government announced a substantial allocation of $900,000 to Peel Regional Police on November 24, 2023. This financial boost aims to enhance law enforcement capabilities, enabling a more robust response against organized crime networks responsible for the recent surge in violent carjackings.
Mayor Patrick Brown endorsed the government’s initiative, emphasizing the objective to make car theft in Peel Region an unattractive prospect for criminals. “We want to make sure this is the most inconvenient place to steal a car because the police have the resources to investigate what’s happened, track you down, and return that car,” stated Mayor Brown, underlining the commitment to fortify the region’s defenses against auto theft.
This funding injection signifies a pivotal step towards reinforcing community safety, demonstrating the government’s and law enforcement’s shared commitment to addressing and preventing criminal activities in Peel Region.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
