Graffiti incident leads to threat, arrest and discovery of weapons in Ontario town

What began with a man allegedly drawing graffiti on a garbage bin in Guelph on Thursday morning quickly led to another man being threatened and then the recovery by police of various weapons including a stun gun, brass knuckles and a number of knives.

Guelph Police said the incident unfolded at around 11 a.m. when one man spotted another drawing graffiti on a garbage bin in the city’s downtown core.

“He confronted the (man) and told him to stop,” police said of the first man’s actions. “The subject then threatened to stab the victim while reaching into his side pocket.”

The victim quickly left the area and called police.

Shortly before 1 p.m., police officers identified a suspect in the downtown area and made an arrest.

A subsequent search by officers turned up:

• a stun gun
• brass knuckles
• various knives including a spring-loaded knife
• an extendable baton
• a small amount of methamphetamine
• a small amount of fentanyl

A 37-year-old Guelph man is charged with:

• mischief under $5,000
• utter threat to cause death/bodily harm
• unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon (three counts)
• possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose
• possession of drugs (two counts)

He was held in custody pending a Friday bail hearing.