St. Catharines man latest charged in Wainfleet kidnapping
Published March 2, 2023 at 6:30 p.m
Headquarters of the Niagara Regional Police St. Catharines. – via Google Maps.
A St Catharines man is the fourth and latest to be arrested in connection with Tuesday’s kidnapping attempt that resulted in a gunshot.
On the evening of February 28, Niagara Regional Police responded to a disturbance in the rural area near 6 Concession Rd. and Wellandport Rd. in Wainfleet.
Police said they learned that a group of four men had taken a young man from his home against his will at around 5:20 p.m. The quartet of suspects were reportedly armed with firearms and knives.
Shortly thereafter, police went to a second home in Wainfleet where the group had allegedly attempted to abduct a second young lad. On that second attempt, a shot broke the evening stillness, although no one was injured.
The suspects tried to flee, but their getaway car got stuck in a ditch. Stranded in the wooded darkness, the four ran away from the car on foot.
Responding officers quickly grabbed one from the group, but the other three made it into the brush. In order to track down the man, the police sent K9 units to search the area.
In addition, the Niagara Police Department called the OPP for help, who dispatched a search helicopter. The search party found two other suspects by 7 p.m., but the fourth man evaded arrest.
Police later charged a Niagara Falls boy, a Pelham boy (both 16 years old) and a 20-year-old St. Catharines man with kidnapping, use of a gun during a felony, attempted kidnapping and a second charge with a firearm.
The names of the 16-year-olds are protected by the Juvenile Justice Act. While the St. Catharines man’s name was usually shared, police held him back due to his connection to the minors. All three appeared in court on March 1.
The fourth suspect was still at large at the time. However, that changed on March 2nd. At about 3:30 am that afternoon, police arrested a second man from St. Catharines, this man 18 years old.
The 18-year-old man has been charged with a dozen felonies including;
- kidnapping
- Use of a firearm while committing a crime
- Attempted inspection and criminal act (kidnapping)
- Using a firearm while attempting to commit a crime
- Careless use of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Attack with a gun and
- aiming a firearm
His identity is also being withheld due to his connection to the teenagers. He will appear in court virtually on March 3.
“Welland Detectives is continuing to investigate this matter,” police said. “The fourth suspect arrested today was the remaining pending suspect from the originally reported incident. All parties believed to be responsible for the original incident have been arrested.”
Police reiterated they believe it was a targeted incident and that there was no threat to the public.
Anyone with information about the incidents can call the police at (905) 688-4111 option 3, extension 1009318.
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