4 suspects charged in violent Oshawa home invasion

TORONTO – Police have arrested four suspects following a violent home invasion in Oshawa early Thursday morning.

Police responded to a call at a home on Dalhousie Court, just south of Durham College, shortly before 1 a.m. after a group of men forced their way inside the house.

Two suspects, both armed with a gun and a knife, assaulted one of six students who where home at the time.

The men forced the victims to the basement, where they were tied up.

Police say friends of the victims arrived at the house during the home invasion and startled the suspects.

A fight ensued and the suspects fled on foot.

Police K-9 and aerial units were called in to track the suspects, who were seen fleeing through backyards and into a wooded area.

Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology were placed under lockdown for a short time as a precaution.

Officers forced the suspects out of the wooded area onto a street where they to fled in a waiting vehicle.

A brief pursuit ensued, ending with officers creating a rolling block to trap the suspects’ vehicle.

Police conducted a high-risk takedown and arrested four suspects.

Jerome Smith, 23, of Scarborough, Merisa Saul-Thom, 20, of Ajax, Christopher Thompson, 25, of Mississauga, and Adam Moore, 19, of no fixed address, have been charged with a number of offences including break-and-enter with forcible confinement and robbery with a firearm.

Saul-Thom is also charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and flight from police.

Police believe the victims were targeted.

Anyone with information that might assist investigators is asked to contact Cst. Murray Rose of the Central East Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 3617.