A Windsor man with a history of gun incidents is facing five charges related to firearms after police seized a rifle, a revolver, and ammunition from a property on Walker Road on Wednesday.
Duke Bracaj, 49, of Windsor, has been charged with two counts of possessing a firearm without a licence, two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm while prohibited.
The accused was the subject of an investigation by the Windsor police drugs and guns unit (DIGS).
Unit members obtained a search warrant for a commercial property in the 1000 block of Walker Road.
The location was raided on Wednesday around 7 p.m. The suspect was arrested at the scene.
Along with the revolver, rifle, and box of ammo that were found in the building, officers also seized three pellet rifles and three pellet handguns.
Windsor police remind the public that possession of illegal firearms is a serious crime concerning the entire community.
“Each time an illegal firearm is removed from our streets, our community becomes a safer place for us all to live and enjoy,” police said in a release.
Duke Bracaj’s record includes drug and firearm convictions in both Canada and the U.S.
On Jan. 27, 2004, Bracaj was shot multiple times with a Tec-9 machine pistol wielded by David Thibert outside the Lumberjack Restaurant at 475 Tecumseh Rd. East.
Bracaj survived the shooting.
At the time of the attack, Bracaj was himself facing firearm charges in relation to a Sept. 23, 2003, incident in which he allegedly pointed a handgun in the bar of an Albanian community centre.
Bracaj eventually pleaded guilty to possessing an unlicensed firearm. Although a stolen Glock 21 pistol was recovered and Bracaj’s DNA was found on the handle, the judge ruled that the evidence did not conclusively show Bracaj handled the firearm as described in the allegation.
Anyone with information about drug or gun crimes is encouraged to call police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4361.
Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.