THUNDER BAY – Police have arrested an armed suspect who prompted the evacuation of the Intercity Shopping Centre and an ensuing manhunt.
A 27-year-old man was arrested in the area of Dease Street and McMurray Street shortly before 4 p.m. Monday afternoon when we walked by patrol officers while they were questioning a different man who closely matched the description of the suspect.
Upon arrest, officers found brass knuckles, a knife, airsoft gun and a variety of drugs.
The mall was evacuated shortly after 12:15 p.m. Monday afternoon as Thunder Bay Police Service officers sought a knife-wielding and possibly firearm-carrying five-foot-seven Caucasian male with a slim in his 20s possibly wearing a short sleeve shirt with a drawing of a marijuana plant.
Earlier in the day Const. Julie Tilbury said the suspect had a confrontation with an off-duty Nishnawbe Aski Nation Police Service officer and was seen heading in the direction of the mall.
After people were allowed back inside the mall, which happened around 1:30 p.m., officers were seen walking down Fort William Road. They also appeared to search the Lakehead Labour Centre building across the street.
Unconfirmed reports indicate the LCBO store in the Thunder Centre was also evacuated.
Employees in the north side of the mall appear to have been evacuated while employees in the southern half, in the food court area, were reportedly locked down inside. Some customers were also instructed to hide inside storage areas in some of the central stores.
Ashley Kielczewski, who works at the Bagel Store, said mall security and police officers were rushing shoppers and employees outside.
“Everybody was shipped outside and anybody who was not an employee of the mall was told to be sent home,” she said, adding employees were told to wait.
“The police were yelling at employees coming through the mall and telling everybody to get as far away from the entrances as possible.”
