Man well known to police in hot water again

A man well-known to police will face new weapons charges after policeseized firearms following aroad-side stop.

Mark Baltzer, 56, has been in and out of court over the years for threatening to kill police officers on top of many other offences including other weapons charges.

On Jan. 15 King's District RCMP stopped a truck with a stolen licence plate on McNally Road, north of Aylesford. They arrested Baltzer without incident.

Further investigationled police to execute a search warrant at a home on McNally Road in Burlington. There, police seized two long guns, ammunition and a bow.

On Jan. 28, Baltzer is schedule to appear in Kentville Provincial court to face the following charges:

• Breach of recognizance.
• Unauthorized possession of firearms.
• Unsafe storage of firearms.
• Possession of stolen property.

Baltzer, from Somerset, N.S.was arrested in June, 2010after he attracted attention aboard a Marine Atlantic ferry. RCMP said at the time that a passenger had contacted them with a report that Baltzer was planning to kill police officers in Corner Brook.

RCMP searched his car and found weapons, including a machete,a rifle and a crossbow.

Baltzer was charged in2010 with illegally owning weapons, uttering threats and breaching court orders.

Hehad been granted bail on following the 2010 charges, but was arrestedjust hours laterwhen the RCMP observed him entering a lounge at a motel in Stephenville.

RCMP said a subsequent breath test found that he had already consumed alcohol. Both incidents violated the terms of his bail agreement.

Judge Jacqueline Jenkins ordered that Baltzer be remanded to the Waterford psychiatric hospital in St. John's until at least the Sept. 3, 2010start of his trial on uttering threats, weapons-related offences and other charges.

Following apsychiatric assessment, Baltzerwas found not criminally responsiblefor those charges after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The judge sentenced him to time served while in custody after he was arrested, but he was placed on probation for two years.