THE SPIRIT OF ALL NATIONS WEDNESDAY January 4th, 2023 | www.tworowtimes.com | 519-900-5535 | Grand River Territory | FREE
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Six Nations man, Woodstock woman charged with first degree murder in shooting death of OPP officer OPP Commissioner outraged that accused gunman was out on bail after previous weapons charges, assaulting an officer DONNA DURIC
donna@tworowtimes.com
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SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER/MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION — The funeral for slain OPP Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala will be held Wednesday morning an an arena in his hometown of Barrie, Ontario. Pierzchala was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 27 during an armed robbery in an area that straddles Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Hagersville. Charged with first degree murder in his death are 25 year old Randall McKenzie, who is a Six Nations band member and 30 year old Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry of Woodstock. Each face a charge of first-degree murder in his death. The pair appeared via video in a Cayuga court Wednesday afternoon. Police say around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Pierzchala was responding to reports of a stolen 2021 black Chevrolet truck that had landed in the ditch on Townline (also called
Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30 and Randall McKenzie, 25 are charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of OPP Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala. OPP
Indian Line) near Concession 14, just west of Ojibwe Road between Hagersville and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN). According to police, the suspects opened fire on the officer, who police believe did not have a chance to draw his own weapon. Police reported to EMS that the officer received gunshot wounds to the chest and leg, and was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died. The two suspects fled in a stolen vehicle, identified as a black pickup truck, to a home on Mississauga Road — and then on foot into the bush behind the home
on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Police issued an Ontario-wide shelter in place order as they searched for the suspects. The woman was found nearby and arrested at a site just off Ojibwe Road at around 6:30 p.m. while the man was apprehended east of that location around 6:50 p.m. in a field near Ojibwe Road. Both remain in custody. During the manhunt, a live-streaming link to an online radio service, Broadcastify.com, was shared on social media. During the point of the arrests, over 15,000 people were listening live to the police
and other first responders communicating as they carried out the air and foot search. Community members from the Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations tuned into that scanner-based website and kept tabs on what was happening in the bush on the concession bordered by Ojibwe Road, Townline Road (aka Indian Line) and Mississauga Road on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. During the arrests — police were heard informing dispatch that Sperry was apprehended and informed police McKenzie was still carrying a gun, and that he
was planning on aggravating a suicide by cop situation. A police air unit in helicopter over the reserve tracked the suspects with infrared heat sensing technology and pinpointed Mckenzie’s location, directing police on the ground. Just prior to his arrest, an open radio transmitted the sounds of a single gunshot. Police reported the gunshot sound to dispatch and air unit officers stated they observed McKenzie fire his gun, throw it into a field and walk toward the police with both hands in the air. Following his apprehension by police, the male suspect, Randal McKenzie, requested emergency medical assistance claiming he had a broken back. He was transported to Brantford General Hospital Tuesday evening. OPP did not confirm if Mckenzie did sustain any injuries, how or when, but during his court appearance was not medically restricted. There has not been any announcement of an SIU investigation into the circumstances around his arrest. TRT has reached out to the SIU to confirm if Mckenzie did sustain injuries during his arrest and if a pending investiga-
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