Third arrest made in connection to multiple carjackings in Oakville, GTA

A third arrest has been made in connection with a series of carjackings in Oakville and separate incidents spanning the GTA.

On March 30, Halton police said a blue Audi RS7 was stolen around 12:30 a.m. in the area of Bridge Road and Lees Lane, just west of Fourth Line.

Three suspects were believed to be involved, and police said one was armed with a handgun. Investigators said the suspects approached the victim while he was in his garage at his home.

One of the suspects allegedly fired several rounds toward the residence. The victim sustained minor injuries as a result.

Investigators revealed an earlier carjacking was carried out by the same suspects on February 26.

As a result of the investigation, on May 27, police arrested 19-year-old Christopher Ugochukwu of Toronto. A second man, Merrick Beddaoui of Toronto, was taken into custody on June 6.

Both men are facing several charges for a series of carjackings throughout the GTA, including two incidents in Oakville.

Ugochukwu is facing multiple offences, including two counts of robbery and one count of possession of a weapon, while Beddaoui was charged with two counts of robbery, among other crimes.

Armed man arrested, facing over 15 charges

Halton police also updated the circumstances on a third arrest that was made in connection with the February 26 carjacking.

On May 20, Chessen Johnston, 27, of Brampton, was apprehended in Toronto. Officers say that Johnston was in possession of a loaded firearm at the time and was driving a stolen vehicle.

Johnston is facing a total of 18 charges, including robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon, fraud under $5,000 and unauthorized possession of a credit card.

A Halton Regional Police cruiser. (Twitter/Halton Regional Police).

All three accused individuals were held in custody pending a bail hearing.

This latest string of arrests follows three others made by Halton police last week, after a series of violent carjackings in Oakville, where the alleged perpetrators targeted Range Rovers.

Those incidents were carried out on May 27, May 30 and June 3 at different locations in Oakville.

Toronto police and other officers spanning the GTA have stressed a level of urgency to crack down on carjacking crimes that continue to be carried out.

Task forces have been assembled to leverage a more significant police presence to catch carjacking perpetrators in the act.