Suspect named in armed standoff

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE

************************* 2:30 p.m. update to armed male arrested at 10:16 a.m. this morning: male identified

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - (June 16) - Twenty-four-year-old James Sinclair of 1520 Queen Street East #3 (town house) was arrested on June 16 at 10:16 a.m. this morning, just outside the rear area of the buildings located at Queen Street and Gore Street.

He has been charged with one count of possession of a weapon for purpose dangerous to public, one count of use of an imitation firearm while committing an offence, two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of breach of a probation order.

Around 4:39 a.m. on June 16, City police responded to a call regarding a male with a gun and shots fired in the area of Gore Street and Queen Street.

Officers immediately responded to the area and heard shots being fired and observed a male with a hand gun running in an eastbound direction behind the buildings located at the corner of Gore Street and Manilla Terrace.

It is alleged that the accused pointed the firearm at two officers that responded to the initial call.

The male was quickly contained to a roof area of buildings along Queen Street East near Gore Street.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service emergency services unit, police negotiators were deployed during the standoff.

Police negotiators were in communication with the male by way of his cell phone and successfully negotiated a safe resolution to the incident.

The accused surrendered to the emergency services unit officers at approximately 10:16 a.m.

A blank firing replica pistol and blank ammunition was recovered when the accused surrendered to police.

No one was injured during this incident.

The accused is to appear in bail court on Tuesday, June 17 at 10 a.m.

City police were also assisted by the Ontario Provincial Police with containment of the area.

An area covering sections of Bay Street, Wellington Street East, Queen Street, Albert Street East, Gore Street, Tancred Street and Andrew Street were barricaded and closed off to the public and automobile traffic.

The incident remains under investigation.

************************* Previous SooToday.com coverage of this story

9:08 a.m. police statement on armed standoff (video) Cops talk to downtown gunman 11:05 a.m. statement on downtown surrender (video) Video of downtown surrender (extended version) Suspect named in armed standoff