Man arrested after entering restricted area at Sarnia police station

A 37-year-old Sarnia man faces multiple charges after police say he entered a restricted area at the Sarnia Police Service headquarters.

Police say the incident happened on Jan. 2 at about 11:55 a.m., when a man walked into the employee-only parking lot at the rear of the police station. The area is clearly marked as non-public and is used by officers and civilian staff arriving for or leaving work.

As an off-duty officer arrived at the station, police say the man confronted him near the employee entrance. The officer remained with the man, who was behaving erratically, until on-duty officers arrived.

Uniformed officers engaged in extended communication with the man, police say. He continued to show unusual behaviour, including sudden and exaggerated movements, which police say may have been caused by consuming an unknown substance.

During the interaction, officers learned the man had outstanding arrest warrants. When officers tried to take him into custody, police say he physically resisted by refusing to free his hands or follow commands.

Additional officers were called to assist, and multiple officers were needed to safely subdue and secure the man. Police say he continued to resist even after being handcuffed and while being taken into the station.

Once inside the custody area, officers found the man had a knife, police say.

The 37-year-old man was charged with three counts of failing to comply with a probation order, one count of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of obstructing a peace officer by resisting arrest.

Following a bail hearing, the court remanded him into custody. Police say they have had 38 interactions with the man since January 2025, including 10 arrests and 29 charges.