Police have arrested four people after a five-hour standoff in the city’s north end over the weekend.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Primary Response Branch were dispatched to an address on the 300 block of Balsam Street shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, January 5, after receiving reports of an assault that had recently occurred.
Officers located a female who said she had been the victim of an assault at a different address in the area, and advised that one of the suspects was in possession of a possible firearm. She was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for further assessment and has since been released.
Members of the Thunder Bay Police Services Emergency Task Unit, along with members of the Containment Unit and Crisis Negotiators, then engaged in a standoff. Four suspects were taken into custody without incident shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 6.
An imitation firearm was located within the residence.
Marquis NIEMI, 28, is charged with the following:
• Assault
• Assault – Choking
• Assault with a Weapon
• Breach of a Release Order
• Pointing a Firearm
• Careless Use of a Firearm
• Using a Firearm in the Commission of an Offence
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
Bryson MATINET, 25; Autumn SINOWAY, 20; and Mariah ACHNEEPINESKUM, 24, are each charged with assault.
NIEMI was remanded into custody with a future court appearance date. All other accused have been released with future court appearance dates.