Welland man brandishes gun at police, arrested following stand off

A Welland man is facing charges after he threatened Niagara police officers with a knife, a baseball bat, and a gun — causing a tense stand-off that lasted for over an hour.

On Sunday, officers began receiving reports around 3 p.m. that there was an armed man at a shopping plaza on Lincoln Street near Coventry Road in Welland.

Police say a woman had been walking through the parking lot when she was struck by an unknown man driving a vehicle.

When a witness followed the suspect, they were threatened with a knife.

Officers later attended a house on State Street, where they say the man threatened them with a knife, a bat and then a gun.

Crisis negotiators were called in, nearby homes were evacuated and the surrounding roads closed.

The man surrendered to officers around 4 p.m.

During a later search of his home, police found and seized a .22 calibre bolt-action rifle, a replica firearm, a knife and baseball bat.

On Tuesday, police announced 38-year-old James Hellam had been charged with multiple offences, including:

• Assault with a Weapon (2 Counts)
• Dangerous Operation (1 Count)
• Failure to Stop after Accident (1 Count)
• Uttering Threats (2 Counts)
• Assault a Peace Officer with a Weapon (2 Counts)
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (1 Count)
• Careless use of a Firearm (1 Count)
• Possession of a Firearm knowing Possession is Unauthorized (1 count)