With thanks to the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), here is an overview of occurrences related to Burlington that we received for March. The summary this month is even more shocking to us than usual. All suspects named in this article are from Burlington, unless otherwise noted.

Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault Charges

On March 24, HRPS announced that they made an arrest in a human trafficking investigation. The survivor was trafficked within Halton region and surrounding areas. Mohamed Osmand Daoud of St. Catharines has been charged with trafficking in persons; sexual assault with a weapon; assault with a weapon; assault (two counts); procuring and exercising control, direction or influence over movements of a person and providing sexual services for consideration; as well as two charges of receiving a material benefit from the sexual services of others.

On March 22, HRPS announced that they made an arrest in a human trafficking investigation. The survivor was trafficked within Halton region and surrounding areas. Gavin Reid of Brampton was arrested in Barrie. Reid also goes by the alias “Blaze.” He is charged with trafficking in persons; forcible confinement; aggravated assault; procuring a person to provide sexual services for consideration; knowingly advertising sexual services; withholding or destroying identity or other documents; as well as two charges of receiving a material benefit from the sexual services of others.

On March 17, HRPS searched a Burlington residence after a youth under 18 years of age met the accused. Peter Eerhad has been charged with luring a child, invitation to sexual touching, sexual assault, and sexual interference. Eerhad was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

On March 13, HRPS arrested and charged Scott Musson with sexual assault (two counts) and sexual interference (two counts). The victim was a youth when the assaults occurred between 1997 and 1998. Musson was a practicing doctor with an office on Elizabeth Street at the time, and was also involved with youth programs at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Headon Road.

Two occurrences are subject to a publication ban under section 486.4 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Drug-Related Occurrences

On March 26, HRPS attempted to stop an individual in a motor vehicle in the area of Highway 6 North and Leslie Road in Wellington County. After the driver, George Smith, lost control and drove into a ditch, he was arrested. He has been charged with a number of offences including: possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking (six counts); possession of a prohibited weapon; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; possession of property obtained by crime; and failing to stop after an accident. After search warrants were executed in Burlington and Wasaga Beach, the following items were seized: methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, hydromorphone pills, oxycodone pills, Canadian currency, and a flick knife. Smith was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

On March 2, HRPS conducted a Controlled Drug & Substances Act search warrant at a south Burlington residence. Cocaine, psilocybin, cash, cell phones, and digital scales were seized. A man was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking. A woman was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking; another was charged with possession of cocaine; another was charged with possession of cocaine.

Drinking and Driving

On March 27, HRPS responded to a complaint in the area of Thomas Alton Boulevard and Hopkins Drive, resulting in a charge of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more for a resident of Hamilton.

On March 26, HRPS were conducting a R.I.D.E. initiative in the area of Harvester Road and Walker’s Line. One man was charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more.

On March 25, HRPS responded to a complaint in the area of Plains Road East and LaSalle Park Road, resulting in a charge of operation of a motor vehicle while impaired.

On March 24, HRPS conducted a traffic stop in the area of Plains Road East and St Matthews Avenue. A Hamilton man was charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more.

On March 22, a woman was charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired when HRPS responded to a complaint in the area of James Snow Parkway and Regional Road 25 in Milton.

On March 15, HRPS responded to a complaint in the area of Lakeshore Road and Torrance Street. A man was charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired.

On March 13, HRPS conducted a traffic stop in the area of Plains Road East and King Road. A woman was charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more.

On March 1, HRPS responded to a collision in the area of Fairview Street and Maple Avenue. As a result, a man was charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more.

Fraud

On March 17, Brian Kumar was arrested and charged with fraud over $5000 (three counts). Kumar worked for a financial company, and two victims had invested approximately $1.6 million between 2011 and 2016, which was diverted to Kumar’s bank accounts. There is now a permanent prohibition on his registration with the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

Remember that all persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

“See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Project #Noisemaker

On March 30, HRPS reported that their “Project #Noisemaker” initiative found that unnecessary noise from motor vehicles is often accompanied by other illegal vehicle modifications, unsafe vehicle conditions, and aggressive driving behaviours. The 2021 project will launch on April 1 and run until October 31. In 2020, more than 1420 charges were laid throughout Halton and these included racing and stunt driving charges as well as no/improper muffler and unnecessary noise. More than 40 vehicles were removed from the roadway for a variety of reasons.  

The occurrences in this article were described in HRPS e-updates that include Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. If you would like regular updates, subscribe to Community Notifications from https://www.haltonpolice.ca/en/news-and-updates/community-notifications.aspx.