Police are filing additional charges in the Welland gun incident

Police say they have filed additional charges in connection with an incident Sunday in Welland.

After a woman suffered minor injuries after being struck by a vehicle in a parking lot, the driver fled to a home on State Street, where police say a gun was brandished and threats were made.

Crisis negotiators were called in and a suspect was eventually arrested.

See Armed man call in Welland leads to arrest

Niagara Regional Police now say that based on information about the involvement of a firearm, a search warrant was executed at the State Street residence on Monday, where investigators seized a replica firearm, a knife, a baseball bat and a .22 caliber repeating rifle .

James Hellam, 38, of Welland was arrested and charged with the following additional Criminal Code offenses:

• Attack with a weapon (2 points)
• Dangerous operation (1 count)
• Failure to stop after accident (1 count)
• Making threats (2 counts)
• Attacking a peace officer with a weapon (2 points)
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (1 count)
• Careless use of a firearm (1 count)
• Possession of a firearm knowing that possession is unlawful (1 count)

The crime scene has now been cleared and the surrounding streets have been reopened, police said in a press release.

Hellam was remanded in custody for a video bail hearing at the Robert SK Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and Hellam is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1023300.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.