Man arrested following day-long standoff in Welland, Ont.

A shelter-in-place order in Welland Ont. was lifted Saturday morning after police arrested the male suspect at the centre of an officer-involved shooting that injured a female officer a day earlier.

Niagara Regional Police said the suspect was apprehended shortly after 7:30 a.m., ending a standoff that had kept residents confined to their homes for nearly 24 hours.

• Niagara police officer injured after being shot in Welland

Police confirmed that the shelter-in-place order and all associated road closures have now been lifted.

What we already know

The incident began around 8 a.m. Friday near Plymouth Road and Lincoln Street, when officers responded to a call initially made by bylaw officers.

Police have said officers were met with gunfire shortly after arriving at the scene, and a female officer was struck.

Const. Richard Hingley previously told reporters that the officer’s body armour is believed to have prevented more serious injuries.

The officer was transported to hospital and later released with minor injuries.

Ontario’s police watchdog has been notified and is investigating, after police said officers discharged their firearms during the initial interaction.

59-year-old man arrested

Police have now identified the suspect as 59-year-old Daniel Tronko. He is charged with attempted murder, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues.

Police said officers attempted to negotiate with Tronko throughout the day and yesterday evening.

“At various points throughout the evening and overnight hours, police deployed tactical operations in which they sent remote cameras into the residence,” police said. “In all instances, the remote cameras were fired upon by Tronko and disabled, demonstrating a disregard for public and officer safety,” officials wrote in a news release.

Tronko was arrested by members of the NRPS Emergency Task Unit and transported to an out-of-region hospital by Niagara Emergency Medical Services. Police said there were no further injuries to officers or members of the public.

Residents are now being told it is safe to resume normal activity in the area.

SIU investigating

The province’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), is investigating the circumstances and confirm that Tronko was shot by a Niagara police officer at some point during the day-long standoff.

Preliminary information shared by the SIU indicates that he reentered the residence shortly after the exchange of gunfire between him and police on Friday morning.

They say Tronko sustained a gunshot wound during that initial interaction and he was taken to the hospital for treatment Saturday morning following his arrest.

He remains in hospital in stable condition.

Premier Ford reacts

Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted to the standoff coming to an end this morning on X.

Ford wrote in part, “I am relieved that the officer who was shot yesterday morning in Welland has been released from the hospital without serious injury. I’m grateful for her service and wish her a full recovery.”

He also thanked Niagara police for their “professionalism and dedication” to resolving the situation without further injury to “the police or the public.”