Thunder Bay, Ontario – Thunder Bay Police Service successfully apprehended four individuals after a tense five-hour standoff that unfolded over the weekend in the city’s north end.
Key details of the incident are as follows:
Assault Report The events leading to this operation began on Friday, January 5, shortly before 11 p.m., when Thunder Bay Police Service officers from the Primary Response Branch were dispatched to an address on the 300 block of Balsam Street. The dispatch followed reports of a recent assault at that location.
Victim’s Account
Upon arrival, officers encountered a female victim who reported being assaulted at a different address within the vicinity. She further informed the officers that one of the suspects possibly possessed a firearm. As a precautionary measure, the victim was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for a comprehensive assessment. Subsequently, she was released after receiving medical attention.
Tactical Response
The situation escalated, prompting the deployment of specialized units, including the Thunder Bay Police Services Emergency Task Unit, the Containment Unit, and Crisis Negotiators. These units collectively initiated a five-hour standoff with the suspects.
Arrests Without Incident
The resolution of the standoff came shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, when all four suspects were taken into custody without any further incident. An imitation firearm was discovered within the residence during the operation.
Individual Charges:
- Marquis NIEMI, 28, faces a range of charges, including 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, and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. NIEMI has been remanded into custody, with a future court appearance date.
- Bryson MATINET, 25; Autumn SINOWAY, 20; and Mariah ACHNEEPINESKUM, 24, are each charged with assault. All other accused individuals have been released, with future court appearance dates scheduled.
