Two suspects arrested in Essa murder

Two arrests have been made in connection with the body of a man found burning in an Essa Township ditch two weeks ago.

The arrests were made by RCMP and Calgary Police Service in Calgary, Alta. Tuesday. Both accused will be returned to Ontario to face Second Degree Murder charges.

Nov. 7, Nottawasaga OPP responded to a 911 call from a motorist reporting a grass fire burning in the east ditch of the 6th Line of Essa south of the 25th Sideroad.

Emergency services personnel from Nottawasaga OPP, Essa Township Fire Department and Simcoe County Paramedics responded to the scene and discovered it was actually human remains that were at the source of the fire.

A post mortem was conducted on the victim Nov. 8 and determined the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

The victim was identified through dental records as 47-year-old Ali Garakan of Thornhill.

Police believe Garakan was murdered elsewhere and dumped along the sideroad in Essa.

An investigation led by Det. Insp. Bernie Murphy of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, resulted in Canada-wide arrest warrants for Second Degree Murder being issued last week for three males in relation to the case.

Mohammad Al Kazragy, 23, and Payam Khastou, 25, were arrested without incident in Calgary.

The two attracted the attention of Calgary police because they were acting suspiciousy and they were arrested after questioning.

An arrest warrant is outstanding for the third suspect, 22-year-old Arash Arashvand of Toronto.

Police urge anyone who knows the wherabouts of Arashvand not to approach him, but to contact local police by calling 911, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).