St. Catharines man charged in pepper spray incident

UPDATE

Niagara police say a 29-year-old man who was arrested last week has admitted to spraying a “dog irritant” in downtown St. Catharines.

David Stout is facing two criminal charges after a noxious substance was sprayed in the Ministry of Transportation building on St. Paul St. last Tuesday.

Surveillance video allegedly shows Stout spraying the irritant around the elevator area of the building’s second floor.

Police confirm victims in the immediate area were affected by the substance.

The Centre of Forensic Sciences has determined the substance was a “pepper spray-based contaminant.”

Stout is currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Wednesday.

Detectives believe Stout may have been involved in a similar incident at another location in St. Catharines. Police say charges are pending in the second incident.

Anyone with information that could help police with the investigation is asked to call 905-688-4111, option 3, badge number 9533.