Coat check results in weapons arrest

On Thursday, March 1, 2007, at approximately 2:30 p.m., police were called to a restaurant in the Richmond Street West/York Street area.

It is alleged that:

• a man attended the restaurant,
• he checked in his coat, at which time an employee located a loaded firearm in the coat pocket.
• police attended and the accused was arrested.
• a fully loaded 9 millimetre semi-automatic handgun and a quantity of drugs were seized.

Arrested is Ricardo Russel Forde, 26, of Toronto.

He was charged with:

1. Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition,
2. Weapon Dangerous,
3. Carry Concealed weapon,
4. Unauthorized possession of firearm,
5. Careless storage of ammunition,
6. Possession Proceeds of crime under,
7. Possession Proceeds of crime under,
8. Possession of firearm knowing the serial number had been removed,
9. Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking,
10. Possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking.

He was scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Friday, March 2, 2007.