Heavily armed police nab suspect after four-hour standoff

A police standoff that lasted more than four hours outside a Shafer Avenue home has ended.

Our photograph shows Paul Jeffrey Whalen emerging from the house at the corner of Shafer and Swartz Street shortly after 8 p.m., surrendering to heavily armed police.

Police say the standoff started after they received a tip that Whalen was at a west-end residence with another male. Police had been seeking Whalen on outstanding warrants for threatening, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

Before he could be apprehended, Whalen left the residence with police in pursuit.

When his vehicle was stopped, Whalen fled on foot to the residence on Shafer Avenue, which was then surrounded by police who maintained a vigil for four hours.

Three persons had left the home unharmed when Whalen entered.

As neighbours watched, police unsuccessfully tried to use a remote-controlled robot to break the home's window glass.

The robot ended up tipped on its end directly beneath the window.

After negotiations with the Emergency Services Unit, Whalen gave himself up shortly after 8 p.m. and left the home with raised hands.

He was immediately taken into custody.

Police waited about 15 minutes more before cautiously entering the house.

There was also a heavy police presence tonight near the Mac's convenience store on Wellington Street, although police have so far said nothing about anything happening there.

Police say that the incident is still under investigation and further charges are to be laid.

Whelan will appear in bail court today at 1:30 p.m.

SooToday photo coverage

Taking aim on Swartz Street The house where Whelan was holed up Neighbours await an end to the standoff Police robot overturns after failing to break window glass Armed police enter the house Mission accomplished #1 Mission accomplished #2