After a tense 24-hour standoff that had the community of Welland, Ont., on high alert, a man holed up in an old church was arrested Saturday and is facing charges including attempted murder following the shooting of a police officer.
Daniel Tronko, 59, was taken into custody just before 7:30 a. m. ET, according to Niagara regional police. He was later transported to a hospital outside the area after the standoff ended.
The situation started around 8 a. m. Friday when police officers arrived at the property alongside bylaw officials who were concerned about an issue regarding a fence.
In a news release and on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, the police service stated that residents are no longer advised to stay indoors since the shelter-in-place order has been lifted.
“Every decision that was being made by our command officers had the safety of the public and officers first and foremost in mind,” Const. Richard Hingley of the Niagara Regional Police Service told reporters at a news conference.
During negotiations overnight with Tronko, police used tactical operations which included sending remote cameras into the church-turned-residence. In every instance, police reported that Tronko fired upon these cameras, disabling them and showing “a disregard for public and officer safety.”
This incident caused local schools to go into lockdown and also prompted Welland Hospital to implement a hold-and-secure protocol that was lifted later Friday afternoon.
According to authorities, Tronko shot and injured an officer after they had accompanied bylaw officials to handle an enormous fence obstructing traffic sightlines.
The officer was treated at a hospital and later released “with minor physical injuries.”
Ford expressed his “prayers” for her well-being along with her family as well as all law enforcement personnel across both borders,
Police Prepared for Extended Situation
Around 7 p. m. Friday, Niagara police posted on X stating, “If members of the public are questioning recent sounds heard in the area, police have initiated tactics and equipment to determine the wellbeing of the male inside the home.” Hingley informed in late afternoon that law enforcement was readying for what might be “a long-term operation.” “We understand it’s tough for the community having such an extended shelter in place,” Hingley explained; “but it is for their own safety and it does help us do our job better.” Around 5 p. m., authorities announced that they set up a shelter at a community center located at 145 Lincoln St. for those unable to return home while negotiations continued. <p Earlier in conversations with media outlets, Hingley mentioned that this incident seemed rooted in a dispute over fencing.</The City of Welland’s bylaw officials had visited because “an enormous fence” blocked traffic sightlines; thus they asked for police presence “to keep peace,” he said previously.
Grant Munday from Welland’s planning department shared via email with that it appeared as though “the property owner had put up a fence on City Road allowance while digging near where city water and sewer infrastructure exists-both actions not permitted.” The fence surrounds an old church converted into living space; shortly after officers arrived there, Tronko opened fire at them.Assistance from Hamilton and Halton Police
The emergency task unit from Niagara Police along with teams from Hamilton and Halton were present at Second Street between Plymouth Road and Lincoln Street throughout Friday afternoon working hard “to ensure safety in this area,” according to Hingley. No information has been disclosed regarding specifics about the injured officer involved. Butspeaking from Buffalo, N. Y., Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented during his press briefing confirming he’d heard about an officer being shot in Welland saying she’s “a wonderful person.”Ford expressed his “prayers” for her well-being along with her family as well as all law enforcement personnel across both borders,
“God bless her-and let’s pray everything will turn out okay. I’m really hopeful it will.”
SUI Called In Following Incident
<blockquote Just after eleven o’clock on Friday morning,$$Niagara Police reported using firearms “during initial interaction" prompting notification sent immediately towards SIU (Special Investigations Unit).
< The SIU confirmed activation invoking its mandates stating Saturday afternoon revealed details indicating Tronko sustained serious gunshot injury.
< The SIU also clarified Tronko received treatment soon afterward whilst remaining stable following hospitalization conditions
<img src="” alt=”photo description goes here”>Schools impacted during lockdown procedures included both Plymouth Public School & St. Mary Catholic School; however around two o’clock twenty-four minutes past noon representatives confirmed all staff members safely evacuated following earlier incidents.
Source link
