Male Arrested Following Reports of an Armed Person in Niagara Falls

On June 6, 2023, at 8:05pm, 2 District (Niagara Falls / Niagara on the Lake) uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of a man armed with a rifle in Niagara Falls.

Officers attended a parking lot on Drummond Road near Dunn Street. The initial information received was that a male had exited a black BMW SUV in a parking lot and was holding, manipulating, pointing, and loading a large capacity rifle.

When the officers located the BMW the male was still holding the rifle. He was arrested at gun point. While being placed in the rear of the police vehicle for transport the male became violent and physically refused to enter the vehicle. In the struggle the male kicked two officers in chest. The male was eventually secured in the police vehicle.

The rifle was determined to be a replica firearm. The replica rifle was a completely black Airsoft “carbine” rifle with a working slide and removable magazines. There was no indication that the rifle was a replica (e.g., orange tip).

Officers located a black satchel in the BMW. In the satchel officers located and seized the following:

3.5g grams of suspected blue Fentanyl 2.7g grams of suspected pink Fentanyl 2.5g grams of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine 7.5g grams of suspected Cocaine $4150 CDN Currency

Jordan John Apps (45 yrs.) of Fort Erie has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:

Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose Assault Peace Officer (2 Counts) Possession of a Schedule I Substance (Fentanyl) (2 Counts) Possession of a Schedule I Substance (Crystal Methamphetamine) Possession of a Schedule I Substance (Cocaine) Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under 5000

Apps was held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on June 7, 2023.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-0688-4111, option 3, extension 1022200.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

Click Here for Crime Stoppers Online   

See photo.

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Public Release – Criminal Impaired Driving Offences – May 29th to June 4th, 2023

In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service will be reporting the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region.

                   

In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension.

                                                    

The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mgs or above of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample.         

                    

George A. JANSEN, 72yrs, St. Catharines

Pamela A. GARNER, 63yrs, Niagara Falls

Paul J. SOKOLOSKI, 40yrs, Fort Erie

Jillian B. DELIMAN, 42yrs, St. Catharines

Alexander P. MCINTYRE, 20yrs, Port Colborne

Ronald E. HAAB, 52yrs, Pelham

 

The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like R.I.D.E. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and affects thousands of lives every year.

Person Into Niagara River – Niagara Falls

On June 1, 2023, at 3:12pm the Niagara Parks Police responded to a report of a person who had intentionally entered the upper Niagara River above the brink of Niagara Falls.  That person was not located.  They are considered missing. 

The investigation has been assigned to detectives from the 2 District – Niagara Falls office of the Niagara Region Police Service (NRPS).  The person’s name has not and will not be released by the NRPS as well, we will not be confirming their identity out of respect to their privacy and family.

We recognize that this is a very difficult time for the next of kin.

The police and family have learned that “Go Fund Me” profiles have been created in relation to this missing person.  This has been done without the immediate next of kin’s knowledge or consent. 

It is the practice of the NRPS to not disclose or publicly provide information on a suicide incident.  Due to public misinformation circulating around this incident the NRPS is taking the un precedented step of confirming this was an intentional act.  Detectives have recovered evidence to confirm this.  Foul play is not suspected.

The above information has been released with the consent of the family.  We would ask the public and media to respect the privacy of the family and missing person.

No further information will be provided regarding this matter out of respect for the next of kin.

Click Here For Information on Suicide Prevention

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Niagara Beach Day 2023

For many years, the first Friday in June has been known as “Beach Day” in Niagara.  On this occasion secondary students across Niagara take an “unofficial” day off from school and attend area beaches to be with friends.

Depending on the year, the event has been both problem free and has experienced alcohol and drug consumption, vandalism, littering, and unfortunately violence.

Friday, June 2nd marked Beach Day 2023 in Niagara.  As a proactive measure the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) district offices with waterfront beaches (Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Grimsby, and St. Catharines) began taking steps to ensure the fun and safety of those who chose to come the beaches.  The beach areas were patrolled by extra officers hired for foot and ATV patrol. The NRPS Marine Unit was deployed to the Lake Erie shoreline and the NRPS Traffic Enforcement Unit patrolled the roads near the beaches. Officers from Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Units  from across Niagara were deployed to augment safety efforts at the various beaches.

Fort Erie – Bay Beach saw approximately 200-250 people, throughout the day. It was a mixed crowd with local families in attendance as well as high school students. Security guards and Town of Fort Erie Bylaw officers addressed attempts to bring alcohol on to the beach.

Port Colborne – Nickel Beach had approximately 80 – 100 young persons.  There were no issues reported.

Grimsby – Grimsby and west Niagara beaches had little activity. There were no issues reported.

St. Catharines – There was significant attendance at Sunset Beach in St. Catharines with the crowds estimated at 1800+ persons. Officers found some persons in the crowd to be volatile and defiant at times, with officers having had cans and water bottles thrown at them. Officers faced significant challenges with multiple fights, alcohol and drug (underage consumption) use, motor vehicle collisions, and a large brawl that led to a 16-year-old male being transported to the hospital serious but nonlife threatening injuries. 

The 16-year-old male victim was treated and released from hospital. 18-year-old Noah Ciccone of Grimsby was arrested and charged in relation to the injuries the 16-year-old male suffered. Ciccone is charged with the Criminal Code offence of:

Assault Cause Bodily Harm

Ciccone was released from custody on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date.

The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to work with our community partners to ensure that Beach Day is fun and safe.

The matter remains under investigation by the 1 District – St. Catharines detective office. Anyone who may have witnessed, or video recorded the brawl is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3 extension 1009628, referencing incident #23-58323

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

Click Here For Crime Stoppers Online   

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Welland Man Arrested for Assault with a Weapon

On June 4, 2023, at 12:25pm 3 District (Welland / Pelham) uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service responded to a report of a man armed with a knife in Welland.

Officers attended the scene, near Market Square and Young Street in Welland. Initial investigation determined that two adult males had been involved in a verbal argument that escalated. One of the males pulled out a knife and made repeated attempts to slash the other male. The male without the knife was not injured.

Officers were able to locate the suspect a short distance away. He was placed under arrest at 12:42pm.

Jacob Isaac Lundy (22 yrs.) of Welland has been arrested and charged with the Criminal Code offences of:

Assault with a Weapon Fail to Comply with a Probation Order (2 Counts)

Lundy was held in custody for a video bail hearing to take place at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on June 5, 2023.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact the investigating officer by calling 905-688-4111, extension 1023300.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

Click Here for Crime Stoppers Online   

 

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