On March 26, 2026, the Stratford Police Service responded to reports of a man carrying a handgun in the east end of the city. Officers arrived at the area near 619 Devon Street in Stratford, Ontario, shortly after 12:30 p.m. to investigate the report of a male carrying a black handgun.
Police blocked off parts of C.H. Meier Boulevard near the Walmart and the Avonwood condominiums while they searched for the individual. The Perth County OPP helped with the search, which included using a drone equipped with thermal imaging to look for the person from the air.
The man was described as white and was wearing a beige camouflage hoodie and blue Nike jogging pants that were tight at the ankles. He also had headphones around his neck and was seen walking east on the north side of Devon Street.
Officers were unable to find the man during the search, and the area was opened back up to traffic just after 2:30 p.m. The Stratford Police are now asking anyone living in the Devon Street and C.H. Meier Boulevard area to check their home security cameras for any suspicious activity from that afternoon.
This incident occurred during the first month of leadership for interim Chief Paul Landers, who took over the role on March 2, 2026. Anyone with information is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 519-271-4141.
