An Ajax man is in custody after allegedly pulling a gun on a family biking on a Pickering trail and then stealing a bicycle when the husband came to his family’s aid.
Durham Police were called to Kingston Road and Notion Road – near the Pickering-Ajax border – on Tuesday, just after 7 p.m., after reports of an armed person.
Police said a woman, her husband and their two children were walking on the Duffins Trail when they were accosted by the suspect, who made “derogatory” comments about the woman and then pointed the weapon at the family when the husband confronted him.
The victims, who were riding bicycles, quickly left the area, but the suspect reportedly followed them in his vehicle. When the suspect got out of his car, the husband reportedly got off his bicycle to protect his family. The suspect then damaged the victim’s bicycle, police said, before stealing it and fleeing the area in his car.
Police located the suspect a short distance away and took him into custody without incident.
The victims did not sustain any physical injuries.
The accused was charged with four counts of pointing a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon, theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000 and failure to comply with an undertaking.
He was held for a bail hearing.
Editor’s note: The name of the accused has been removed.