Kingston Police lay charges after known offender seen with machete

A local individual is facing charges after being spotted by Kingston Police officers, who were aware that the individual is currently on court-imposed conditions.

It wasn’t the court-imposed conditions, however, that gave cause for an arrest. According to Kingston Police, it was the sudden presence of a weapon that led to the arrest, charges, and subsequent bail hearing of the individual.

At approximately 12:40 a.m. on Monday, Jun. 6, 2022, officers observed the person in question, whom they knew was on court-imposed conditions from having had prior interactions with them. The person was seen sitting in the passenger’s seat of a vehicle parked in the Rideau Street between Dufferin Street and Corrigan Street, according to Kingston Police. Officers spoke with that individual, and then proceeded to speak with the driver of the vehicle. While speaking with the driver, the passenger took the opportunity to remove a weapon from the vehicle, police relayed on Tuesday, Jun. 7, 2022.

“[Police] observed that the passenger had removed a machete from the vehicle and placed the tip into the ground within arm’s reach,” said Const. Ash Gutheinz, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police.

“As this individual was on court-imposed probation conditions to not be in possession of a weapon, they were subsequently arrested.”

The accused person was transported to Kingston Police Headquarters and held to attend a bail hearing today, Tuesday, Jun. 7, 2022. While the individual was not charged with any weapons-related offences, they were charged with two counts of breaching probation due to being in possession of the machete.