A man accused of waving a knife in Hamilton’s downtown core Thursday morning is facing charges.
Police say a man made stabbing motions toward locals around 8 a.m. while walking in the area of Hughson and King Street East.
The suspect was arrested at gunpoint near James and King after he failed to drop the knife amid repeated orders from officers to do so.
The 37-year-old accused, identified in a police release, has been charged with possessing a dangerous weapon and disobeying a court order.
The incident comes just days after Hamilton police stepped up their presence in part of the city’s downtown in an effort to “decrease” a recent rash of shoplifting, panhandling and property damage reported by retailers and residents in the area.
The “Core Patrol,” a dedicated team of officers assigned to the downtown, will primarily walk through areas encompassing Wellington, Bay, Cannon and Hunter streets.