A King’s University College contract employee faces three charges of uttering threats and unsafe storage of ammunition in connection with an incident involving another King’s employee.
London Police Service arrested a 34-year-old London man, at his home Nov. 10 after receiving a tip he allegedly threatened to kill a co-worker. A search warrant was executed on his home after police learned through the gun registry the man owned firearms. Police seized his firearms.
“At no time did he go to the university with any weapons that we are aware of,” says Const. Dennis Rivest, London police media relations officer. “At no time was any of the individuals at the university in any danger in this particular case.”
The suspect did not plot a shooting at King’s University College, says Rivest. However, Williams allegedly threatened other people who have no affiliation with The University of Western Ontario or its affiliate colleges.
Western’s Campus Community Police Service was notified of the incident on Nov. 10, however campus police were not directly involved in the investigation. If the accused is released into the community, campus police will be notified.
“There are a number of different procedures in place (at Western)… lockdown procedures and the security of campus,” Rivest says. “In this particular case, we didn’t need to go to this extreme.”
While campus police and the Department of Communications and Public Affairs were notified of the arrest, London police, who was handling the situation, did not issue a public statement. Media reports this week revealed details about the incident, which occurred earlier this month, and some members of the university community questioned why the details are only now being released.
“There was no threat. There would be no reason that we would go out and make any kind of release here … all that creates is confusion (with people asking), ‘Well, why are you telling us about this?'” says Elgin Austen, director of Western’s campus police. “The individual was arrested. There was no threat.”
Upon hearing of the incident, the university put its safe campus community plan into action.
“We have a safe campus community policy that supports the tracking of any situation that may be hazardous to a member of the community and that was utilized in this case,” says Austen.
“Between London police and the university, the situation itself was well managed,” he adds. “At no time was there any physical hazard to anyone at the university because the person is in custody.”
Todd Williams of London has been charged with three counts of uttering threats and unsafe storage of ammunition.