NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On June 9, 2021 approximately 8:55 p.m., 1 District – St. Catharines uniform officers responded to a variety store on Pelham Road near Kent Street for a report of stolen car that had just occurred.
Uniform officers initial investigation determined that at approximately 8:53 p.m., the car owner had entered the variety store and left their Dodge Journey running in the parking lot. While inside the Dodge was stolen by two suspects.
At 9:30 p.m., the Dodge was located a short distance away at a housing complex on Rykert Street near Churchill Street by officers.
Officers were able to determine that the suspects had entered a unit in the complex.
Officers contained the residence and one of the suspects, a Thorold man, surrendered himself to be arrested.
The second suspect refused to come out and barricaded himself in the residence.
Officers determined that a risk of weapons existed in the residence. The Emergency Task Unit (ETU) and Crisis Negotiators were called to the scene.
At 1:50 a.m., officers from the ETU were able to arrest the second male suspect in the residence.
A female who had been in the home was removed unharmed.
There were no injuries as a result of this incident.
Brandon Rodney Thomas (28 years old) of Thorold has been arrested and charged with the offence of:
• Possession of property obtained by crime
Arkadiusz Jerzy Bukinski (45 years old) of no fixed address has been arrested and charged with the offences of:
• Theft of motor vehicle
• Operation while prohibited
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Thomas and Bukinski were both held in custody to attend a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on June 10, 2021.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to call 95-688-4111, ext. 1024233.
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