London man sought after skipping sentencing for shooting, robbery

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Ontario Court Justice Kevin McHugh agreed to release Brandon Ford on bail last month after he pleaded guilty to charges related to a shooting and an armed robbery in London.

Freeing Ford for one month before his sentencing would allow him to spend time with his second daughter, who was born last year while he was in jail, and get his affairs in order, said defence lawyer Keli Mersereau, who acknowledged her client faced “significant” jail time.

McHugh granted the request and ordered Ford, 31, be fitted with a GPS-tracking bracelet and return to court for sentencing Wednesday.

But Ford didn’t show up.

Now, London police have a warrant for his arrest and are asking the public for help finding him.

“Members of the public are reminded not to approach Brandon Ford and to call 911 immediately,” police spokesperson Const. Matt Dawson said Thursday.

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Ford also faces three new charges: mischief, failing to attend court and failing to comply with a release order.

Details about Ford’s role in two violent incidents were detailed in court on July 22, when he pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm, robbery with an offensive weapon, breaching probation and two counts of breaching a release order.

Surveillance footage captured Ford arguing with a man outside a variety store on Meadowgate Boulevard, east of Highbury Avenue and Commissioners Road, before he retrieved a handgun from the trunk of a car and pointed it at the man on March 1, 2023, court heard.

Ford got into the driver’s seat of the car and drove off with a man who tried to defuse the situation before doing a U-turn and circling past the man he had been arguing with. The surveillance footage didn’t capture the gunfire, but a witness reported hearing a single “pop” coming from inside the car, court heard.

Police responded to the scene and found the uninjured man inside the store. He was arrested and a loaded handgun found in his jacket pocket. The man told investigators that he’d picked the gun up off the ground and reported being shot at but he said he didn’t know if he’d been struck, court heard.

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Police officers went to a London home where Ford was required to live at under a release order and obtained surveillance video from a nearby camera showing him driving into the garage with a blown-out back window. Ford and several other people were later seen cleaning the car before he drove it away, court heard.

Ford was arrested the next day at a Dorchester house. After his arrest, Ford told and officer: “I don’t give a f***, super high right now, smoked a joint. Yeah, need a good lawyer.”

In the armed robbery from Feb. 6, 2023, Ford and two men forced their way into a William Street home. Ford was armed with a replica handgun and the two other suspects, whose identities remain unknown, had a baseball bat and knife, court heard.

Ford fired two blanks from the replica gun during a tussle with a woman inside the home, while the two other suspects tried to tie up a man. The trio fled with $1,000 cash and 450 grams of marijuana, court heard.

Ford’s lawyer, Keli Mersereau, wasn’t available for comment Thursday, her office said.

Ford is described as a 5-11 white man who weighs about 160 pounds. He has short brown-blond hair, blue eyes and scruffy facial hair. He has a large tattoo with the name “Amber” across his neck. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call London police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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