A 26-year-old man is facing more than a dozen charges after a police search at a Scarborough home yielded a pipe bomb, drugs, firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Police found the pipe bomb -- which was initially described as a ‘suspicious item’ -- while executing a search warrant for drugs at a home on Scarborough Gold Club Road near Lawrence Avenue East shortly after 7 p.m. Monday.
At some point, investigators received information pertaining to a potential explosive device in the garage and ultimately called in a bomb squad (CBRNE) to tend to the scene.
Crews then set up a perimeter and evacuated multiple homes in the vicinity of the residence in question.
Upon arriving at the scene, members of CBRNE located the pipe bomb inside a children's toy box, moved it to an undisclosed location and detonated it safely using a robot.
A search of the home allegedly yielded two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition as well as an unknown quantity of drugs and Canadian currency.
In a news release issued Tuesday, Toronto police provided images of two weapons allegedly seized from the residence.
A suspect identified as Toronto resident Robert Rochon was arrested at the scene and charged with 15 offences including possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking, two charges of possession of a prohibited firearm obtained by crime and possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.
He was expected to make an appearance in court at Old City Hall today.
Some of the residents affected by the evacuation were allowed back in their homes at around 9 p.m. while others were permitted after 11:30 p.m., police said.
Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 416-808-3300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
