A machete-wielding man who attacked city police officers with bear mace is now in custody.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers were dispatched to a weapons call about a man outside of a McIntyre Street home with a handgun just before 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Officers arriving on scene were met with an emotional male complainant who said another man had just broken a window of his home with a machete.
Police say they soon found a suspect walking down the street with a machete in the 200 block of McIntyre Street. Officers drew their handguns and ordered the man to the ground.
Police say the man turned around and sprayed the officers with bear mace.
Officers were still able to gain control of the man and handcuff him.
Other responding officers entered the home to look for another man with a handgun as original stated in the 9-11 call they received. Police say no handgun was found.
Police say officers brought the machete-wielding man to the Balmoral Police Station where he was searched. Offices found what is believed to be cocaine during that search.
The 28-year-old Thunder Bay man will appear in court Thursday and faces numerous charges including:
- Possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon
- Possession of prohibited weapon
- Assault with a weapon (two counts)
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking
- Mischief under $5,000
- Breach of probation
- Breach of recognizance
- Breach of undertaking
Police say the assault with a weapon charge stems from the man’s attempt to attack officers with the bear spray.
Note to readers: This story corrects an earlier version that indicated a handgun was found.
