St. Thomas, ON – Thursday January 23rd 2025
A 14 year old Elgin County resident has been arrested after police received a weapons complaint related to a local high school incident.
On Tuesday January 21st 2025, STPS received notification from the administration of a St. Thomas high school, that the accused was possibly in possession of a firearm. Through investigation, officers learned the accused had brought the weapon to school on Tuesday, anticipating an altercation with fellow students.
On Wednesday January 22nd, STPS criminal investigators executed a search warrant in the county with the assistance of the OPP Tactics & Rescue Unit resulting in an arrest. The firearm described was located, seized and proven to be a bb gun.
As a result, the accused has been charged with the following:
- Pointing a Firearm
- Uttering Threats
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
The 14 year old was transported to St. Thomas police headquarters were they were processed and held for a morning court appearance. ST25001238
“We continue to respond and investigate matters related to actual and perceived incidents of violence within our local schools. As previously reported, in 2021, our local school boards paused the School Resource Programs that had been in place for decades and offered a supportive police presence for the entire school community. Violence in schools are clearly becoming a worrisome trend, with teachers, parents, elected officials and the police advocating for change and a return of the School Resource Program in some revised form. Since 2021, reported calls for service to the STPS have risen by nearly 55% percent, with our officers attending schools once every two days. We will continue to meet and discuss our concerns with the community, both Directors of Education, Trustees and elected officials”.
Chief Marc Roskamp
