OPP SWARM OAKWOOD MOTEL IN MID-MORNING GRAVENHURST POLICE RAID THURSDAY

Police tight-lipped as officers remain on scene

for hours at south end of  town’s main street 

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — A mid-morning police raid drew heavy Ontario Provincial Police presence to the Oakwood Motel on the south end of Gravenhurst’s main street Thursday, as officers appeared to be searching for a person of interest.

Witnesses reported seeing about eight OPP vehicles at the motel, located at the Gateway to Gravenhurst, shortly before noon. Officers descended on a prominent row of the east-facing rooms overlooking Southgate Plaza and a nearby McDonald’s restaurant.

Police on scene declined to comment on the nature of the investigation.

The Oakwood Motel, on Gravenhurst Muskoka Road main street, was surrounded by police this morning searching for a person of interest. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

But officers remained at the motel until just before 2 p.m., and indicated they “may or may not” still be there later in the afternoon.

Motel management said they were not informed of the police visit and were given no details.

“They did not disclose anything to me. They just went to the unit and were looking for the one guy,” said manager Ridish Patel, speaking shortly after 1:30 p.m.

“Other than that, I did not…. They just showed up.”

Passersby reported seeing as many about eight police vehicles at the motel. A few of them were still on scene just after 1:30 p.m. today and they “may or may not” be there longer said one officer.

Patel confirmed police were at the motel, but said it appeared there was no immediate concern for public safety.

“Everything is OK,” he said.

The longtime manager, who has been at the aging motel for four or five years, said the scale of the response was unprecedented in his experience.

“There were lots of police there. It’s the first time in my life that I saw that many police cars,” Patel said.

As of mid-afternoon, no arrests or charges had been announced.

Neither police or the motel manager would reveal which room was involved in the investigation, however the police presence was on the east side of the building facing Southgate Plaza and the McDonald’s there.

Fact Box

What we know

  • Location: Oakwood Motel, south end of Gravenhurst’s main street
  • Time: Mid-morning Thursday Dec. 18; officers remained until just before 2 p.m.
  • Police presence: Approximately eight OPP vehicles
  • Investigation: Police would not comment;
  • Public safety: Motel manager said there was no immediate concern

What we don’t know

  • The nature of the investigation
  • Whether anyone was injured
  • Whether anyone was arrested or detained
  • Whether police will return to the scene

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