Sarnia Police Service officials allege: Police responded to a Quinn Drive retailer around 1:56 p.m. on October 3, 2025, after receiving reports of a man behaving erratically, stealing items, and openly carrying a knife inside the store.
Officers arrived on scene within minutes and located the man near an exit. Police recognized him from previous incidents within the past 24 hours. Officers ordered the man to drop the knife, but he refused and continued yelling at police.
Despite several attempts to de-escalate the situation, the man did not comply. Officers deployed a conducted energy weapon, which was partially successful in causing the knife to be discarded. The man then turned toward police with his fists raised, but officers were able to gain physical control and place him under arrest without injury to anyone involved.
A 57-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer, causing a disturbance, and theft under $5,000. He was remanded into custody following a bail hearing.
“These are highly stressful and dynamic situations where officers are expected to make split-second decisions,” said Chief Derek Davis of the Sarnia Police Service. “I commend the involved officers for their multiple attempts to deescalate and ultimately conclude this situation so safely. As a police agency, we acknowledge that other social risk factors often play a role in these incidents. Often the agency of last resort, police are still called upon to protect the public and navigate complex incidents, using the tools and training we have available.”
