On July 7th, 2022, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers assigned to 2 District (Niagara Falls / Niagara-on-the-Lake) responded to a disturbance occurring in a residential home in the area of Bridge Street and Homewood Avenue, in the City of Niagara Falls.

Upon arrival, uniformed officers located the victim, an adult male, who sustained a large laceration to the top of his head.  Niagara Emergency Medical Service (NEMS) paramedics attended the scene and provided medical care prior to transporting the victim to a local hospital for further medical treatment.

Continued investigation by 2 District detectives revealed a firearm was involved in the initial disturbance.  As a result, detectives applied for and received judicial authorization to search the residence.  A sawed-off pump action shotgun and ammunition was recovered.

Layton STEVENS (37 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

                • Assault with a weapon causing bodily harm

                • Assault with a weapon

                • Possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition

                • Unauthorized possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon

                • Careless storage of a firearm

                • Possession of a weapon

                • Pointing a firearm

                • Fail to comply with release order (2 counts)

STEVENS is being held for a bail hearing scheduled to take place on July 8th, 2022, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead detective at 905-688-4111, option #3, extension #1009494.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

 

Incident #22-74627

 

Seized Firearm