THUNDER BAY – At approximately 12:20 am, August 25, 2018, a member of the Thunder Bay Police Service recognized a male who was wanted in the Greater Toronto Area for a number of Criminal Code offences. The officer attempted to apprehend the male however he fled and was followed to the complex at 288 Windsor Street.
The male refused to surrender to police and due to a public safety concern, Thunder Bay Police Service members contained the area and set up a full Incident Command consisting of an incident commander, negotiators, emergency task unit, containment officers, uniform patrol members, and other support units. The area was cordoned off while police attempted to negotiate with the male to surrender.
Thunder Bay Police Service Emergency Task Unit members evacuated the specific block associated to this male’s location and advised other occupants to shelter in place. Emergency Task Unit members utilized less-lethal tactical devices however he still refused to surrender.
As the incident was moving towards the later hours, assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police-Emergency Response Team (OPP-ERT) and Tactics and Rescue Unit (OPP-TRU) was requested. OPP-ERT responded from various detachments in the Northwest Region while OPP-TRU responded from Southern Ontario and relieved Thunder Bay Police Service – Emergency Task Unit members in the late afternoon.
At 2:50 am, August 26, 2018, the male surrendered to OPP-TRU members after they made an entry into the unit he had secured himself in. He was transferred to the custody of Thunder Bay Police Service members and is held in custody on a number of Criminal Code offences alleged to have been committed in Thunder Bay and on a number of outstanding arrest warrants issued by police agencies in the Greater Toronto area.
Kurt Downer, age 36 of Toronto, Ontario is held in custody and will be appearing in court later today.
The area cordoned off around 288 Windsor Street has been released by police. The Thunder Bay Police Service would like to thank the public living in the immediate area for their cooperation and patience during this incident.
