A Central Newfoundland man under strict court orders not to leave the province has again been arrested in Toronto, this time on gun charges.
20-year-old Syrus Smith was in a Grand Falls-Windsor courtroom as scheduled on April 14 to face an assault charge, but on May 21 he was in downtown Toronto with a loaded handgun stuck in the front of his waistband.
Police were alerted around 9 p.m., and as they closed in, Smith struggled to get away but was eventually taken into custody.
At the time, he was under strict court orders not to conceal weapons, report to local RCMP, and remain in his house in Newfoundland, from 11:00 at night until 7:00 in the morning.
Smith was charged with:
1. Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
2. Carrying Concealed Weapon
3. Possession of Firearm knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
4. Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime
It’s not the first time Smith has fled to Toronto while ordered not to and been arrested while up there.
He was arrested before Easter, but was released and got back to Grand Falls-Windsor in time to face the same assault charge.
In that case, Smith is accused of attacking another man at a cabin around Thanksgiving of last year and posting a video of his bloodied victim on Snapchat.
It’s not clear how Smith has twice been able to leave and return to the province.
He’s due back in a Grand Falls-Windsor courtroom next Wednesday. It remains to be seen if he can make it back in time again.
