Man charged with gun and drug possession after attempt to enter closed Clarington bank

A Clarington man faces numerous charges after a traffic stop allegedly discovered drugs and a gun in his car.

The BMW SUV with a damaged front end was spotted near King Avenue West and Church Street in Newcastle shortly after 11:30 p.m. on May 29. The driver tried to enter a closed bank in the area. While police did not specify the name of the bank, the intersection is home to a CIBC branch.

Police dispatched the Air 1 helicopter to monitor the SUV until officers could respond. When officers pulled the car over a short distance from the bank, they claimed to have seen a gun in the car.

The driver was arrested during the traffic stop with no further problems. A search of the car found a pistol with an automatic setting and a tampered serial number as well as cocaine. Police did not specify how much cocaine was in the car, but shared an image of a sizable bag.

Justin Lam, 20 of Clarington, is charged with;

• possession of a loaded restricted or prohibited firearm,
• possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly without a licence,
• possession of a firearm knowing the serial number has been tampered with,
• occupying a car with a gun, and
• possession of a Schedule 1 substance for trafficking.

Lam remains in custody until a bail hearing.

Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2125 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).