Hamilton Police have apprehended 348 outstanding wanted individuals over a six-month project resulting in numerous arrests, seizure of weapons including firearms, property, illicit drugs and more.

In April 2022, the Hamilton Police formed Project KORA which encompassed multiple units from across the service and was designed to hold individuals committing offences accountable.

Over the six-month period there were 348 wanted individuals arrested and 104 new charges laid. In total, police seized 267 grams of Fentanyl, 5.5 grams of methamphetamine, 16 grams of cocaine and illegal oxycodone pills. Investigators also seized numerous prohibited weapons such as a hatchet, brass knuckles, knifes, a pellet gun, a firearm and over $4,800 in Canadian Currency which was proceeds of crime.

“We know outstanding wanted individuals have a significant impact on Hamilton’s crime and are associated with violence in our community” says Hamilton Police Service Superintendent Mark Stiller.

Hamilton Police continue to conduct investigations with a collective goal of enhancing public safety within Hamilton. 

If you have any information about gun violence or any crime within our city please call Hamilton Police at 905-546-4925. 

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com.

In May 2022, Hamilton Police launched an investigation into an organized vehicle theft ring. 

The project took place at various locations in the Hamilton and Niagara Region. 

Last week investigators completed the project.  Investigators seized 19 stolen vehicles, a large amount of illicit drugs and two loaded firearms. 

Hamilton Police report the following statistics from Project Grizzly:

The Equite Association estimates auto thefts cost Canadians close to $1 billion yearly, including $542 million for insurers to fix or replace stolen vehicles, $250 million in police, health care and court system costs and millions more for correctional services.

The investigation is ongoing, if you have any information that you believe could assist police with the investigation into this crime, you are asked to contact Detective Sean Woodard by calling 905-546-3820 or Acting Detective Sergeant George Gallant at 905-540-5085.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

Hamilton Police  and partnering agencies recently completed Project Smoke. This project focused on ensuring compliance of the Liquor Licence and Control Act, Tobacco Tax Act, Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act and Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

Project Smoke, which included, City of Hamilton Licensing and By-Law Service, City of Hamilton Public Health Tobacco Enforcement Team and the Ministry of Finance, focused on local shisha establishments to ensure their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Through investigation, five of these establishments were found selling shisha mixed with tobacco, which is in violation of multiple laws and regulations.

Results of Project Smoke are as follows;

·         Five charged 

·         20 charges laid varying from Criminal Code of Canada offences to Provincial Offence Act offences

·         26 pounds of suspected tobacco mixed with shisha was seized

If you have any information that you believe could assist police with the investigation into this crime you are asked to contact Detective Constable Micheal MacSween by calling 905-546-3845.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

In September 2021, Hamilton Police launched Project Suppression in relation to an increase in shootings and gang conflicts in the city. The project, which encompassed multiple units from the across the Service, was designed to target illegal firearms and hold individuals committing offences accountable.

“We continue to see the effect illicit drugs has on all aspects of our society. We know there is the impact on violent crime such as shootings but we also need to be aware of the stark increase in opioid deaths in Hamilton,” said Chief Frank Bergen. 

Over a six month period, Project Suppression resulted in 37 individuals charged, 288 charges laid, the seizure of 28 firearms, 10 replica firearms, 11 prohibited weapons, 5 prohibited devices, over 500 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, $273,000 in cash and a significant amount of drugs.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $2,500,000. The project additionally resulted in the significant seizure of high purity Fentanyl that once prepared for street doses would have an estimated street value of $30,000,000.

“We continue to see an increase in guns on our streets. In fact, this week alone two traffic stops yielded two loaded handguns," said Deputy Chief Ryan Diodati.

If you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into these crimes, you are asked to contact Gangs and Weapons Enforcement Unit Detective Sergeant Greg Slack by calling 905-546-3887.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

Hamilton Police have arrested three individuals after a two-month investigation into criminal activity involving stolen vehicles and more. The investigation, dubbed Project El Dorado was conducted in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada and Niagara Police Service.

In May of 2021, Hamilton Police launched an investigation into an organized auto theft and chop shop ring.

The project took place at various locations in the Hamilton and Niagara Region.

Hamilton Police BEAR Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Niagara Regional Police Emergency Response Unit along with the Insurance Bureau of Canada executed six search warrants at five different locations in the Hamilton and Niagara Region.

Last week investigators completed the project. Investigators seized 20 stolen vehicles, numerous vehicle parts, a firearm and other suspected stolen items.

Hamilton Police have charged the following individuals:

All three males were released on their own recognizance and their first court appearance is August 12, 2021.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates auto thefts cost Canadians close to $1 billion yearly, including $542 million for insurers to fix or replace stolen vehicles, $250 million in police, health care and court system costs and millions more for correctional services.

The investigation is ongoing, you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into this crime, you are asked to contact Detective Sean Woodard by calling 905-546-3820 or Detective Sergeant Andrea Torrie at 905-546-2991.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

Project Pit Stop II starts today and continues for one month ending on August 24, 2020.

Hamilton Police are listening to community complaints in relation to excessive noise (mufflers) stunting and illegally modified vehicles. These vehicles have been violating several highway traffic offences causing unsafe road conditions and an overall nuisance to the general public. Officers in all areas of the city will concentrate on this enforcement initiative with a zero-tolerance approach.

Project Pit Stop II target areas will be determined divisionally throughout the service. However, some of the attention will be concentrated on parking lots and other gathering locations.

It appears that many owners of both cars and motorcycles have altered or changed their exhaust or mufflers to create excessive noise.

The Highway Traffic Act states "Every motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and excessive smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, Hollywood muffler, by-pass or similar device upon a motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle".

If you have any questions regarding the project please contact Support Services Traffic Office at (905)546-4757 or Staff Sergeant Dave Pidgeon at (905)546-3948.

To provide information anonymously please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

Hamilton Police have received numerous complaints regarding groups of individuals racing vehicles in and around the city. These vehicles have been violating several highway traffic offences causing unsafe road conditions and an overall nuisance to the general public.

Many of the vehicles are modified in various ways which can leave the vehicles in an unsafe state.

Project PIT STOP targeted the area of Queenston Road between Centennial Parkway and the Red Hill Valley Parkway in Hamilton.

After two weekends of running the project, Hamilton Police have issued 104 Provincial Offence Notices including charges for:

• Stunt Driving
• Speeding
• Improper Muffler
• Obstruct Plate
• Fail to Display Two Plates
• Fail to Surrender Insurance Card.

There have been 33 charges laid involving more serious driving offences such as:

• Drive while under suspension
• Stunt Driving (wheelies, burnouts, fishtails)
• Drive Motor Vehicle – No Plates
• No Plates
• Unsafe Vehicle
• Plate not Visible
• Improper Licence

Police also seized 15 vehicles as a result of the above charges as well as laid 9 criminal charges in relation to follow up investigations.

The fastest recorded speed on Queenston Road was on July 3, 2020, where the vehicle was travelling 115km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The driver was charged with Stunting and his vehicle impounded along with a driver's licence suspension for 7-days.

Hamilton Police will continue Project PIT STOP one more weekend and plan to run a PIT STOP 2 later this summer.

If you have information that can help with this project please call Acting Sergeant Adrian Biggs or Acting Sergeant Rees Morgan at 905 540-5179

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

Hamilton Police are committed to making our Hamilton streets safer for all users. If you are an individual who modifies your vehicle, please make sure you check with all Highway Traffic Act rules and regulations to ensure the modifications have been done legally and don’t render the vehicle unsafe to drive.

Slow down and respect the community.