A 66-year-old Shoal Brook man has been charged in connection with yesterday’s frightening incident in Deer Lake.

George Brake of Shoal Brook has been charged with possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose, uttering threats, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and fleeing from police.

RCMP Corporal Jolene Garland detailed the charges in St. John’s this afternoon. She said no specific candidate was named by the suspect.

She says a threat was uttered to execute politicians, adding all local politicians were considered part of the threat.

Brake was found with 36 knives in the cab of his truck when police arrested him outside the law office of Humber-Gros Morne PC candidate Jim Goudie yesterday morning.

A search of Brake’s residence is underway.

The police pursuit began yesterday morning after Brake allegedly indicated that he intended to “stop the election” before speeding toward Deer Lake.

Earlier Story

Premier Andrew Furey says he was told by police that he was the likely target after a man was arrested in Deer Lake with knives and espousing plans to “stop the election.”

The suspect led RCMP on a high-speed chase yesterday from the Cormack area to Deer Lake, ending with an arrest in a parking lot near the office of a candidate in the provincial election.

Furey says he was disturbed and troubled by the incident, adding his first thoughts were for his wife who is travelling with him today, as well as his children who are in St. John’s.

He says it hit close to home and caused him to briefly question whether his decision to enter politics was the right thing to do, adding he still believes it was. But Furey says Tuesday’s situation was troubling for him and his wife, especially when it came to discussing it with their children.

There have been reports that the suspect was arrested outside the office of the PC candidate in Deer Lake, but Furey says that point is moot, expressing dismay at the thought anyone would politicize yesterday’s incident.