Kitchener-Waterloo

Kitchener man charged after death threat made against Waterloo region politician

For the second time this year, police say a person has been charged with making a death threat against a local politician. Police have not said which politician was targeted but say a 33-year-old Kitchener man has been charged.

MP Tim Louis previously issued statement about a death threat in February

Police cruiser parked in downtown Kitchener
Police say a 33-year-old Kitchener man has been charged after a death threat was allegedly made against a local politician. (Jackie Sharkey/CBC)

A 33-year-old Kitchener, Ont., man has been charged for allegedly making a death threat against a Waterloo region politician.

Officers received information that a "local elected official" had received threatening messages online on March 12. A suspect was arrested on March 13.

The suspect has been charged with uttering threats to cause death and criminal harassment — threatening conduct.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service did not say which local politician was targeted. Police also said they could not say what level of government the elected official represented.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic declined to say if the threat was against a member of city council and the city's policy is "not to publicly discuss matters of security related to city council or our staff, whether they relate to us or other local municipalities."

This is the second time this year a person in the region has been charged with making threats against a local politician.

In February, a 44-year-old Woolwich Township man was charged with uttering threats to cause death.

In a statement sent to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis confirmed his office reached out to Waterloo Regional Police Service on Feb. 2 "regarding death threats I received."