Shotgun seized from private daycare in 1 of 2 raids

A sawed-off shotgun concealed behind a wall was seized from a home used as a private daycare during one of two predawn raids in the Jane and Sheppard area Wednesday, police say.

Two male teens — ages 17 and 18 — are facing a slew of charges following the early-morning operations.

Acting on tips from the public, Emergency Task Force (ETF) officers executed a search warrant at the home and Det. Sgt. Al Coulter said officers found the shotgun concealed within a wall.

Coulter said a 71-year-old grandmother is contracted by a company to watch four or five young children at the home every day.

“She had no knowledge of the shotgun—there was no ammunition found at the scene—and neither did the company that contracted her,” Coulter told CityNews.ca.

“She is running a proper daycare at that place, proper signs posted, and the place looked like it was well-run for that purpose.”

Coulter said officers found a string nailed to a wall. The shotgun was tied to the other end, which was hidden behind the wall.

“If there’s young children there, and you know how inquisitive they can be, if they had pulled the string out there was the possibility that they could have located it as well. We have no indication that they ever did or ever saw it,” he said.

The 17-year-old suspect arrested in connection to that investigation lives at the address. He’s facing three firearms charges and one count of possession of stolen property. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning.

In the other raid that was also based on tips from the public, ETF officers executed a search warrant at another home in the same area and allegedly seized a loaded pistol, crack cocaine and cash.

Police allege an 18-year-old suspect tossed a loaded semi-automatic handgun and some crack cocaine out of a window as officers moved in on the scene. Once inside the house, police say officers seized ammunition, more drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia.

Cjay Hobbs, 18, faces 11 charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possession of cocaine and failure to comply with probation. He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.

“We want to make the public aware that we act on their tips with all seriousness and expediency and we’re trying to make this division as safe as it can be. We’ve got a lot of shootings—I think we lead the city, actually—so we’re very concerned about that,” Coulter said.

Police are asking anyone with information on either case to call (416) 808-3100 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.