A team of Belleville Police Service officers were commended for their handling of a suspect barricading themselves inside a building in December.
A report to the Belleville Police Services Board states that officers were dispatched for a domestic assault complaint on December 21.
Responding to the victim’s statement, an officer formed reasonable grounds to charge a man with multiple serious offenses including assault, assault by choking, mischief, and uttering threats.
Just before 1 a.m. on December 22, officers went to the suspect’s home to execute the arrest, however, police say the suspect refused to engage with officers, barricaded himself inside the home, and warned that he was armed and intended to harm himself if police entered the residence.
Police say the suspect repeatedly held an edged weapon to his throat.
Despite temperatures of -18°C and a prolonged standoff lasting several hours, the negotiation team was able to deescalate the situation.
The suspect surrendered to police at 4:14 a.m. and was taken into custody.
“From the response, to the initial call, to the seamless coordination of specialty units, this incident is a testament to the professionalism of the officers involved,” Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said in his report.
The following personnel were involved:
OIC – Cst. Ben Walden
Patrol Sergeant – Sgt. Brad Stitt
Incident Command – Staff Sgt. Mike Kiley
Tactical Commander – Staff Sgt. Kyle King
Negotiators – Sgt. Dave Johnson/Chad Stein/ Josh Woodcock
Patrol – Cst Boka, Cst Verbeek, Sgt Yanch, Cst Tijssen
Scribe – Allison Windsor
ERU – Matt Sweet, Steve Cooke, Darryl Erwin, Greg Kendall, Ryan Laycoe, Dan Joy, Tyler Philip, Cody Cleary, Darrell Hatfield, Jesse McInroy, Jeff Smith, Jeff Sarley.
