Alleged armed assault in Pickering leads to arrest near schools on hold-and-secure

A man has been arrested after he allegedly attacked a victim with a weapon in Pickering and then fled the scene.

Officers were dispatched to a home near the corner of Beaton Way and Duberry Dr. shortly 9 p.m. on Sept. 27 after reports of an assault. The suburban area sits just off the Finch Ave. and Brock Rd. intersection in the city’s downtown.

When the police arrived they found the victim injured but the suspect had already fled. The victim had been attacked with a weapon. However, the police did not describe it or confirm what happened to it. Officers set up a perimeter around the neighbouring Pine Ridge Forest.

The search for the suspect led to two hold-and-secure orders for the nearby Maple Ridge Public School and Pine Ridge Secondary School. Maple Ridge is about three kilometres west of the home through green space. Pine Ridge is just a stone’s throw to the north of Maple Ridge.

Police arrested a suspect about an hour and lifted the hold-and-secure orders. At the time of this announcement, police did not disclose the nature of their investigation or the identity of the suspect.

These details were released the following day. The suspect has been identified as Faisal Aziz, 24 of Pickering, who was charged with assault with a weapon, possession of a Schedule three drug and failure to comply with release orders. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Paramedics took the victim to hospital from where they have since been released. Police did not share the extent of the vicitm’s injuries or if they had any previous connection to Aziz.

Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 3829 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).