On Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, GST was conducting a proactive walk through of a restaurant in the area of 99 Street and Jasper Avenue when they encountered a group known to police. At the request of police, the group left the restaurant, at which time officers located a loaded handgun in a bag that was left behind. Officers determined the bag belonged to a member of the group, 27-year-old Tysean Wawryk, who was located shortly thereafter walking away from the restaurant and fled on foot when officers called out. He was taken into custody a short time later trying to enter a nearby hotel.
Handgun seized in Feb. 2022
On Friday, April 8, 2022, GST conducted another proactive walk through at a bar in the area of 103 Street and 81 Avenue. While entering the establishment, officers noticed a male run away from the entrance and through the crowd toward a backroom. As officers entered the backroom, they observed the male toss a loaded handgun onto a nearby sofa and then run from the room, exiting the bar. The male, 27-year-old Indeerdeep Sidhu, was taken into custody moments later outside of the establishment. Following a search incident to arrest, Sidhu was also found to be in possession of someone else’s identity document.
Handgun seized in April 2022
Tysean Wawryk was subsequently charged with possession of a firearm contravening regulation, possession of an offensive weapon dangerous to the public, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and obstructing a police officer.
Inderdeep Sidhu was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm knowing serial number altered/defaced/removed, possession of a firearm contravening regulation, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, possession of a weapon in a public meeting place, disobey a court order and possession of an identity document.
Investigators determined that neither male held a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) at the time of their arrests.
“While unrelated, both of these arrests illustrate the prevalence of illegal firearms in our community,” says Staff Sergeant Eric Stewart who oversees GST within the EPS Drug & Gang Enforcement Section.
“From a public safety standpoint, the presence of these firearms in public meeting places like restaurants and bars is particularly concerning and is the reason we continue to proactively pursue those who illegally possess, illegally purchase and traffic firearms.”