A man who Sarnia police said repeatedly gave their officers a fake name to hide court orders while they Investigated a disturbance at a local shelter has been deemed a threat to public safety, police said Friday.
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As a result, Daniel Garcon, 28, was arrested and handed over to Canada Border Services Agency officials to determine his immigration status, police said.
Police said last week they were called shortly before noon on July 2 about a man riding a bicycle trying to hit cars near Confederation and Ontario streets. About 10 minutes later, officers arrested a man matching the cyclist’s description at the Inn of the Good Shepherd.
“The male appeared to be under the influence of drugs, attempting to smash the front window and uttering threats,” police said at the time.
The man told police he was Daniel Mufassa, a 28-year-old Sarnia resident. But police learned that was a false identity and he had used it several times previously to hide the fact he had several probation and court orders in effect.
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Garcon was charged with uttering threats, causing a disturbance, mischief, six counts of obstructing police, and eight counts of failing to comply with probation, police said. A court document containing the 19 charges shows one of the counts is an allegation of failing to report a change of address within seven days as required under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act linked to a court order from Feb. 14, 2022, in St. Catharines.
The Niagara Falls Review reported at the time Garcon, a 25-year-old Haitian immigrant, was convicted of sexual assault a 14-year-old Niagara girl and was sentenced to eight months in prison. The St. Catharines court heard he was likely to be deported from Canada, the newspaper reported.
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A Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson said they are unable to comment or provide details on specific cases, but added their priority is to remove inadmissible individuals from Canada as soon as possible, with a particular focus on individuals who are inadmissible for reasons such as serious criminality.
Garcon was released on bail in Sarnia on July 3, the day after he was arrested, and was due back in court on Aug. 20.
But it continued to be a source of problems at locations for the city’s homeless population including Rainbow Park, the Inn of the Good Shepherd and River City Vineyard, police said Friday.
“As a result of Daniel Garcon’s previous criminal convictions, his outstanding criminal charges and his repeated involvement with police, Daniel Garcon was deemed a threat to public safety,” police said.
A Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson could not be reached immediately Friday for comment.
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