Search ongoing for man wanted in Maberly incident

An incident related to a family dispute on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jul. 9, 2024 on Bennett Lake Road led to a prolonged closure of an area in Maberly, Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say that the incident began at around 3:45 p.m.

By around 6:30 p.m., the Lanark detachment had issued an advisory asking the public to avoid the area of Bolingbroke Road and Maberly Station Road due to an ongoing police investigation.

“It was reported as a disturbance with one person possibly armed with a firearm, resulting in a significant and prolonged police response,” said Bill Dickson of OPP Media Relations following Lanarkist inquiries.

 “Officers arrived quickly in the area and attempted to stop a vehicle which fled. Officers were able to see and identify the driver,” Dickson said.

According to OPP, the vehicle was later located, abandoned, in the area and the driver and a passenger had fled on foot.

The passenger was subsequently located and arrested without incident, OPP said.

Thomas Hale, 35 years old and of Tay Valley Township, was charged with obstructing a peace officer and released.

The driver, believed to be 50-year old William Scharf from Drummond-North Elmsley, remains at large and an arrest warrant has been obtained on charges of flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation of a vehicle. Lanark OPP is urging Scharf to turn himself in to police.

“The OPP believes this was a targeted incident and there was no imminent risk to public safety,” Dickson said.