On July 30, 2023, at 9:35pm 2 District (Niagara Falls / Niagara on the Lake) uniform officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of an assault involving a weapon in Niagara Falls.
Officers attended a residence on Stamford Street near Buchanan Avenue. Officers located two victims: a 55-year-old man from Thorold, and a 47-year-old female from Brampton. Both victims received minor injuries not requiring transport to a hospital.
When officers arrived, a male suspect ran into an apartment, barricaded the door and refused to come out. The initial investigation determined that the suspect had become upset with the male victim and shoved him to the ground. After doing so he used a vacuum to smash a glass door of the residence ($500 damage). The property manager attempted to intervene at which time she was struck with the vacuum.
2 District officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect. The suspect refused to exit and while barricaded began smashing property in the residence ($3500 damage).
Officers from the NRPS Crisis Negotiator Unit and the Emergency Task Unit were called to the scene. 2 District CIB detectives were assigned to assist with the incident. Stamford Steet was closed to traffic during the incident. After lengthy negotiations officers were able to de-escalate the suspect and at 4:04am he surrendered peacefully and was arrested.
Charles Bitton (31 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the Criminal Code offences of:
Assault Mischief Under $5000 (2 Counts) Assault with a Weapon Fail to Comply with Release Order
Bitton was held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on July 31, 2023.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1022200.
23-83931