Some Woodstock residents were asked to stay put Thursday afternoon while police responded to a weapons incident involving one of several suspects accused of kidnapping a teen.
Few details were initially released about the incident, however police stated late Thursday evening that a 21-year-old was taken into custody.
On Friday, Woodstock police revealed the suspect was one of five accused of forcing a teenager into a vehicle and driving off late Thursday morning.
According to investigators, a 15-year-old male was walking in the area of Fyfe Avenue near Pavey Street at around 10:50 a.m. when a white Chevrolet Equinox drove up beside him.
A number of occupants inside the vehicle started talking to him, when one suspect got out, grabbed the victim, and shoved him into the back seat.
Police say the suspects drove the teen to an area on Upper Thames Drive where they met up with two additional suspects in a red/orange SUV. The suspects stole a vehicle from the teenager's residence and dropped him off in a field on the 43rd Line near Oxford Road 17.
The teen was later taken to hospital for assessment. No life-threatening injuries were reported by police.
At around 2:45 p.m., Thursday, police responded to the area of Upper Thames Drive for an investigation that led to a heavy police presence and some road closures near the area of Pittock Conservation Area.
Officers subsequently asked residents and businesses near the area of Upper Thames Drive between Pittock Park Road and Arthur Parker Avenue to hold and secure for about an hour while officers surveyed the area.
At around 3:45 p.m., police provided an update stating there was no concern for public safety.
The 21-year-old that was taken into custody has been identified as Yakub Ali Abdi of Edmonton, Alberta. He is charged with:
Armed robbery
Using a firearm to commit an offence
Kidnapping and unlawful confinement with a firearm
Two counts of assault with a weapon
Uttering threats of death or to cause bodily harm
Breaking and entering with intent to commit an indictable offence
Theft over $5,000
Theft of a vehicle over $5,000
Two counts of possession of property over $5,000
Abdi remains in police custody as of Friday afternoon.
Also on Friday, OPP in Dryden arrested four suspects that were in the Equinox. Additional information about those suspects and charges will be released shortly, police said.
Meanwhile, two suspects in the red/orange SUV remain at large. Those who might know the identity of those individuals are asked to call police. If the suspects are seen, police ask the public to not approach them and to call 911.
Police believe there is no evidence indicating this was a targeted attack. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Woodstock Police Service at 519-537-2323. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.oxfordcrimestoppers.com.
