28 Charges Laid, Handgun and Drugs Seized in St Catharines Trafficking Investigation

On Monday, January 5, 2026, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 1 District (St.Catharines/Thorold) uniform officers were conducting routine patrol in the area of Welland Avenue and Page Street in the City of St Catharines, when a male was observed conducted illicit drug transactions with multiple pedestrians.

Officers recognized the male as Patrick ROY, who was wanted on the strength of a warrant. Officers attempted to arrest ROY, who became assaultive and attempted to flee. ROY attempted to reach for a firearm concealed in his waist band however ultimately, he was physically restrained and arrested.

During the altercation, ROY lost control of a satchel in his possession, and it was dropped on the ground during his arrest. Another male was observed grabbing the satchel and fleeing the scene southbound on Tasker Street.  The male was subsequently arrested at a residence on Seneca Street, where bystanders indicated that he had discarded the contents of the bag in a side yard. A search yielded 12 individually packaged bags of suspected fentanyl, Oxycodone, Ecstasy, and Methadone.

24-year-old Patrick ROY of St Catharines is charged with 21 Offences under the Criminal Code of Canada and Controlled Drug and Substances Act:

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)
• Assault Peace Officer with a Weapon (4 counts)
• Possess Firearm without Holding a License
• Possess Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a License
• Carry Firearm/Ammunition in a Careless Manner
• Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Use Firearm During the Commission of an Indictable Offence
• Possess Firearm Obtained by Crime
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order (3 Counts)
• Fail to Comply with Probation Order
• Traffic in Schedule I Substance

30-year-old Dustin CICHOCKI of St Catharines is charged with 7 Offences under the Criminal Code of Canada and Controlled Drug and Substances Act:

• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime (under $5000)
• Obstruct Peace Officer
•  Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)
• Traffic in Schedule I Substance

ROY and CICHOCKI both remain in custody and are scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009964.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

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