It started in a Welland parking lot, ending with arrest at State Street house
It was a dramatic afternoon in a Welland parking lot and residential area Sunday that's led to charges against a local man.
Police were called at around 3pm to a report of an armed man, that led them to meeting a woman with minor injuries in a shopping plaza parking lot on Lincoln Street near Coventry Road.
Turns out she was walking in the parking lot when she was hit by a vehicle driven by an unknown man. The suspect fled to a house on State Street, but followed by a witness, and that witness was threatened with a knife.
Police say when they got there, the suspect walked out of the house and threatened them with a knife and bat, then walked back inside, and then waved a gun at them.
It was at that moment police closed nearby roads for safety, and evacuated neighbouring homes as well.
Police say they negotiated with the suspect, who gave himself up just after 4pm. The house is being held while police wait for a search warrant.
They tell us 38-year old James Hellam of Welland is charged with 3 counts of assault with a weapon, 2 counts of uttering a death threat, and gun offences.
He was held in custody for a bail hearing on Monday in St. Catharines.
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