Probation for man who told police to shoot him

Suspect, who had hatchet and large knife in his possession, was observed punching a car

A man who armed himself with a hatchet and a large knife and invited police to shoot him after he took a ride on the hood of a moving car has been placed on probation for three years.

David Ryan appeared in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines Wednesday via Zoom and pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.

The 35-year-old, who no longer lives in the Niagara area, was sentenced to time served and placed on probation for three years.

He was also banned from having any weapons in his possession.

On March 31, starting about 9 a.m., court heard, Niagara Regional Police received multiple calls of a man clinging to the hood of a car and punching it with his fists.

The defendant was first observed while he was punching the vehicle as it drove around in circles in the Niagara Falls parking lot of Mount Carmel on Stanley Avenue.

Another witness reported the man banging on the hood of a moving car in the area of Allendale Avenue and Dixon Street.

Further calls to police led officers to the area of Main and Ferry streets.

Police located the man a short distance way. He was holding a hatchet and a large knife and was standing in the centre of the roadway.

During the interaction, he invited police to shoot him.

The man complied with the officers’ demands to drop the weapons and they were able to place him in handcuffs.

Police subsequently learned that moments before officers arrived in the area the man had briefly boarded a city bus and dropped the axe on the floor near the driver.

The driver fled from the bus. No one was injured during the incident.