Facebook death threats against Brockville health care professional lead to standoff with police, arrest

A high-stakes standoff took place in Brockville on Monday after death threats against a health care professional on social media led to a tense situation.

Police say that at about 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, officers received complaints about threatening messages posted publicly on Facebook. These messages indicated that the man was upset with his health care professional, and he expressed a desire to cause harm to the victim by killing him, among other threats and insults.

Officers located the suspect at his residence, which they say was in the area of Macodrum Drive. Police describe him as “extremely agitated, and unwilling to turn himself over to police peacefully.”

The Emergency Response Team was then dispatched to the scene, and ensured that the individual was contained; a warrant to enter the residence was also obtained. Officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but he became more agitated and began making other threatening comments, alluding to acts of violence.

The Ontario Provincial Police were then notified of the situation, and attended to assist. Eventually, the suspect, a 46-year-old Brockville man, was taken into custody. Police first took him to the Brockville General Hospital for a health assessment, and then he was charged with uttering threats and held for a bail hearing.