UPDATE: Standoff suspect now charged with hostage taking

A suspect involved in a police standoff earlier this month faces an additional charge.

Thunder Bay Police Service officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Cumberland Street North at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 4, after receiving a 9-1-1 call reporting a weapons incident.

A male suspect had entered the location and brandished an apparent firearm towards three people who were present, demanding that two of the individuals leave while a third remain inside the premises.

Police arrived and contained the scene as a standoff ensued.

Thunder Bay Police Service crisis negotiators established communication with the suspect and arranged for the safe release of the hostage, which occurred later that morning. The individual did not sustain any physical injuries.

The standoff continued into the evening. The suspect surrendered to the Ontario Provincial Police's Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) and was taken into Thunder Bay Police Service custody nearly 14 hours after the incident began.

Morris HOGAN, 63, is now charged with Hostage Taking.

The accused was previously charged with the following:

• Use Firearm in Commission of Offence

• Careless Use of a Firearm

• Pointing a Firearm x3

• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose

• Forcible Confinement

• Armed Robbery

• Possession of a Schedule I substance x2

• Possession of a Schedule III substance

The accused appeared in court on Friday to answer to the new charge and has been remanded into custody with a future appearance date.