Suspect Faces 18 Charges Including Robbery with a Firearm and Multiple Firearms Offences

THUNDER BAY — A suspect accused of stealing a vehicle at gunpoint earlier this year has been arrested and is facing a slate of serious Criminal Code charges, following an investigation led by the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Break, Enter and Robbery (BEAR) Unit.

The original incident occurred on February 19 at approximately 5:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Memorial Avenue, where a male suspect approached a parked vehicle and threatened the occupants with what appeared to be a firearm before fleeing in the vehicle.

Responding officers later observed the stolen vehicle, which fled at a high rate of speed before crashing and being found abandoned. The investigation was later taken over by the BEAR Unit, which identified and arrested a suspect on Thursday, May 1.

Charges and Criminal Code Penalties

Anthony John CLEMENZA, 25, faces a wide array of charges under the Criminal Code, many of which carry significant penalties:

Primary Charges:

• Robbery with a Firearm (Criminal Code s.344(1)(a.1)): Maximum life imprisonment, minimum 4 years if using a restricted/prohibited firearm.

• Using a Firearm in the Commission of an Offence (s.85(1)): 1-year minimum consecutive to any other sentence.

• Disguise with Intent (s.351(2)): Up to 10 years imprisonment.

• Theft of Motor Vehicle (s.333.1): Up to 10 years imprisonment.

• Flight from Police (s.320.17): Up to 5 years imprisonment.

• Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle (s.320.13): Up to 10 years if bodily harm occurred.

• Failure to Stop After Accident (s.320.16): Up to 10 years if bodily harm occurred.

• Operation While Prohibited (s.320.18): Up to 10 years imprisonment.

Firearm-Related Charges:

• Pointing a Firearm x2 (s.87): Up to 5 years per count.

• Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (s.91): Up to 5 years imprisonment.

• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (s.92): Up to 10 years imprisonment.

• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm (s.95): 3-year minimum, up to 10 years.

• Careless Use of a Firearm (s.86): Up to 2 years imprisonment.

Additional Offences:

• Assault (s.266): Up to 5 years imprisonment.

• Uttering Threats (s.264.1): Up to 5 years imprisonment.

• Failure to Comply with Probation Order (s.733.1): Up to 4 years imprisonment.

Related Incident Charges:

• Break and Enter with Intent (s.348): Up to 10 years imprisonment.

• Mischief Under $5,000 (s.430): Up to 2 years imprisonment.

• Theft Under $5,000 (s.334(b)): Up to 2 years imprisonment.

CLEMENZA appeared in court on Friday, May 2, and has been remanded into custody pending his next appearance.

Ongoing Investigations and Community Concerns

This case underscores ongoing concerns in Thunder Bay related to armed property crimes and vehicle thefts. The involvement of firearms and dangerous driving heightens the risk to public safety, reinforcing the importance of police investigative units like BEAR.