One man has been arrested and charged following the suspicious and violent incident that resulted in the evacuation of the Westtown Centre plaza on Bath Road across from Frontenac Secondary School.
According to Kingston Police, the incident began at approximately 6:08 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, when the accused man called 911 and advised the dispatcher there was a bomb on the roof of a specific business within the plaza.
“He requested that police attend immediately however would not provide any further information. Police were also contacted by the owner of this same business who indicated that the accused was observed to be in possession of a knife and was now threatening individuals inside the premises,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021.
The accused man, a volunteer with the NDP office within the plaza, had initially been observed acting irrationally outside of the Loyal Oarsman by staff there, according to police and witnesses. Police said the man then entered the business and made threats towards customers before being escorted from the property by employees.
“He returned outside of the business shortly after with a knife in hand and held the male victim from behind while placing the knife to the victim’s neck. The accused made threats to kill the victim as he attempted to reenter the business while still holding the knife to his neck,” police said.
The victim was able to break free without being injured, according to police, and the accused man then proceeded to walk back inside the Loyal Oarsman, waving his knife and continuing to make threats to kill individuals who were inside.
“Fearing for the safety and the lives of other customers inside the business, brave patrons and staff intervened and were able to subdue the accused until police arrived and took him into custody,” Kingston Police said. “Police also searched the roof of the business and found no incendiary devices.”
The local provincial NDP, however, is speaking out about the incident. “Yesterday afternoon a serious incident involving a volunteer from our campaign occurred. The police were involved and the situation was brought under control. To our knowledge, everyone is safe,” the NDP for Kingston and the Islands said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. “Our campaign will work to support the well-being of our volunteer and everyone in our community impacted by this incident.”