A man appeared in court Thursday facing charges connected to an incident where Sarnia police said a person was wielding an ax near an elementary school.
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“Quick response by patrol officers results in a male being arrested for wielding an ax near a public school. No concerns for public safety,” police posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Feb. 6 with a photo of what appears to be a small ax or a hatchet with a blue, orange and beige handle and a second black metal object laying on the trunk of a car.
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A Sarnia police spokesperson later said the incident took place near London Road public school.
A Lambton Kent District school spokesperson said Thursday the school didn’t need to be locked down at the time. Caress Lee also said via email the safety of their staff, students and families is a top priority and they work closely with local police departments to ensure any necessary precautions are taken when there is even the slightest threat of safety to their schools.
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“In this case, there was not one,” she added in the email. “The individual was apprehended by the police after a call was made from a parent after the school dismissal process had begun.”
Police did not identify who was arrested that day. But court records show Clifford Britton, 47, was charged with carrying weapons for a dangerous purpose. It alleviates the weapons were a hatchet and a makeshift metal sword.
“These are very serious charges,” justice of the peace Helen Gale said Feb. 7 during Britton’s first appearance in court.
The court heard he also had a release order in place at the time with a weapons ban. Britton has wellness issues, said Terry Brandon, a local criminal defense lawyer working with him on other outstanding charges.
Britton is facing five sets of charges in total ranging from August to last week, records show. None of the charges have been tested in court.
Britton has been in custody since his arrest outside the school as he hasn’t applied for bail. Following a brief court appearance Thursday, his cases were adjourned to early next week.
Another Sarnia resides under a weapons ban quickly got lease last summer after police arrested a man who claimed the hatchets, knife, BB gun and ammo he was carrying were woodworking tools.
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