Windsor police charge two men after air pistol, knife, fentanyl seized

Two men are facing weapon and drug charges after Windsor police seized a realistic-looking air pistol, a knife and drugs in an incident on Wednesday.

Patrol officers responded around 2 p.m. to the area of Wyandotte Street West and Rankin Avenue where a man said he was approached by two armed males — one brandishing what looked like a handgun, the other carrying a knife.

The complainant said the two suspects emerged from a vehicle that had been driven in an odd manner.

The frightened victim fled the area and immediately reported the incident to police.

Officers obtained a description of the vehicle. It was quickly located and stopped in the area, and the two male occupants were arrested.

A search of the vehicle uncovered the black pellet-firing handgun, the knife and about 0.6 grams of suspected fentanyl.

Carmine Lanno, 51, of Essex, and Scott Prentice, 54, of Amherstburg, face identical charges of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and possession of a controlled substance.

The pellet gun seizure has prompted Windsor police to remind the community that the brandishing of anything that looks like a firearm — including air pistols and replica weapons — is a serious matter.

“When a weapon of that nature is brandished, there is no immediate way for anyone to determine whether or not it is a true firearm,” police said in a news release.

Regarding the seized pistol, police ask: “Could you easily and quickly tell the difference if this object was pointed toward you in the dark? Neither could we.”

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Anyone with information about firearm offences, including those involving air guns and replicas, can call police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830.

Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.

dchen@postmedia.com