Primary Response Unit and Break, Enter, and Robbery Unit investigation into several robberies leads to charges

September 16, 2026

TB26030425, TB26030409, TB26030194, TB26030104, TB26029945, TB26029701, TB26029432


A Thunder Bay Police Service Primary Response Unit and Break Enter and Robbery Unit investigation into several robberies has resulted in numerous charges.


On July 26, 2026, Primary Response Unit officers were dispatched to a business on May Street North in response to a report of a robbery.


The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.


Officers obtained video footage from the incident and the investigation continued.


On July 28, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Unit were dispatched to a business in the Fort William Road area in response to a report of a robbery.


The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.


Officers obtained video footage from the incident and the investigation continued.


On July 30, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Unit were dispatched to a business in the Arthur Street West area in response to a report of a robbery.


The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.


Officers obtained video footage from the incident and the investigation continued.


On July 31, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Unit were dispatched to a business on Arthur Street West in response to a report of a robbery.


The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.


Officers reviewed video footage from the incident and the investigation continued.


On August 1, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Support Unit followed up on a call for service from July 30, 2026, regarding a robbery at a business on Fort William Road.


Officers obtained video footage from the incident and identified that it was the same suspect from the aforementioned robbery investigations started on July 26, July 28, and July 30, 2026.


On August 2, 2026, through continued investigation officers with the Primary Response Unit identified the suspect.


Later that same day officers with the Primary Response Unit were dispatched to a business on Arthur Street West in response to a weapons call.


The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.


A search of the area led to the suspect being located and arrested.


The Break, Enter, and Robbery (BEAR) Unit became involved in the investigation on August 4, 2026.


The BEAR Unit followed up on a call for service from August 1, 2026, regarding a robbery that had occurred at a business in the May Street North area.


Later that day officers with the BEAR Unit connected the suspect to additional investigations leading to a re-arrest where more charges were laid.


As a result of the investigations, 37-year-old Jacob SAMSON of Webequie First Nation is facing the following charges:

·        Assault with a weapon (four counts)

·        Theft under $5,000 – shoplifting (six counts)

·        Uttering Threats – cause death or bodily harm

·        Fail to comply with probation order (eight counts)

·        Failure to comply with release order (seven counts)

·        Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose (three counts)

·        Robbery with weapon


The accused was remanded into custody following their first court appearance. 

Intelligence Unit drug trafficking investigation leads to dozens of charges

September 16, 2026
TB26035122 A Thunder Bay Police Service Intelligence Unit drug trafficking investigation has led to several charges. Officers began the investigation in early 2026, in response to reports of drug trafficking. As part of the investigation, on September 2, 2026, officers searched a home in the Limbrick Street area and a property in the Rosslyn Road area. During the searches the following was seized: • 180 grams of fentanyl • 170 grams of crack cocaine • 31 Hydromorphone • 632 Clonazepam pills • Roughly $10,000.00 in cash • One loaded Glock 9mm with an extended mag • 9mm and 223 rounds • Sawed off 12 gauge and 2 rounds • Ruger .22 Cal semi auto with a box of rounds • SKS Type 56 rifle • 45 cal revolver • 2 bags of 9mm rounds and a box of 380 rounds The street value for the seized controlled substances is estimated to be over $94,000.00. Three individuals were arrested during the execution of the Limbrick Street area search warrant. As a result of the investigation, 36-year-old Devon FOSTER from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (other drugs) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (opioid) (two counts) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 • Unauthorized possession of a firearm (five counts) • Unauthorized possession of a weapon • Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition • Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm • Tampering with serial number of a firearm (two counts) • Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition (five counts) • Resist peace officer • Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm (eight counts) As a result of the investigation, 38-year-old Kristin FOSTER from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (opioid) (two counts) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (other drugs) • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 • Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm • Unauthorized possession of a firearm • Unauthorized possession of a weapon • Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition • Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm • Tampering with serial number of firearm • Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition As a result of the investigation, 27-year-old Braeden MATTINAS from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (opioid) (two counts) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (other drugs) • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 • Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm • Unauthorized possession of a firearm • Unauthorized possession of a weapon • Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition • Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm • Tampering with serial number of firearm • Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition • Failure to comply with release order All of the accused were remanded into custody following their first court appearance.

Thunder Bay Police Service Traffic Unit project leads to 276 HTA, CAIA, LLCA charges

September 15, 2026
A Thunder Bay Police Service Traffic Unit project has led to numerous Highway Traffic Act (HTA), Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA), and Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA) charges. Officers were conducting a back-to-school and aggressive driving project between September 6, 2026, and September 11, 2026. Enforcement took place during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours. A total of 276 charges were laid under the HTA, CAIA, and LLCA. Five of the HTA charges were issued for stunt driving by speeding, two of which were for racing a motor vehicle. Over 110 tickets were issued for speeding. Other charges issued include: • Unsafe vehicle • Careless driving • Display screen visible to driver prohibited • Commercial motor vehicle related charges • Suspended driver There were also provincial summonses issued for: • Drive motor vehicle with no licence • Owner operates motor vehicle on a highway with no insurance • Drive motor vehicle with no permit An additional eight Criminal Code charges were also laid including: • Dangerous operation • Operation while impaired (three counts) • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) • Failure or refusal to comply with demand • Operation while prohibited

Break, Enter, and Robbery Unit investigation into several robberies leads to charges

September 15, 2026
TB26032236, TB26031693, TB26031586, TB26033789, TB26032978, TB26033113, TB26033138 A Thunder Bay Police Service Break, Enter, and Robbery (BEAR) Unit investigation has resulted in dozens of charges. On August 9, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Unit attended a business in the Cumberland Street North area in response to reports of a robbery. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived. On August 10, 2026, officers with the Primary Response Unit were dispatched to a business on Balsam Street in response to a robbery. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived. On August 14, 2026, officers responded to a business in the Balsam Street area following another robbery, by the same suspect. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived. The BEAR Unit became involved in the ongoing investigation. On August 24, 2026, officers were dispatched to a business in the Cumberland Street North area in response to a robbery. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived. On August 26, 2026, the suspect was located and arrested in the Cumberland Street North and Villa Street area. That same day, BEAR Unit officers connected the suspect to three ongoing robbery investigations at a business in the Beverly Street area which occurred between August 18, 2026, and August 19, 2026, leading to additional charges. As a result of the investigation, 25-year-old Jayden MATTHEWS of Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: • Robbery with weapon (three counts) • Robbery with violence (four counts) • Disguise with intent (three counts) • Obstruct peace officer • Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose (six counts) • Failure to comply with release order (seven counts) The accused was remanded into custody following their first court appearance.