Cop, man fall into gorge
Chase ends with rescue mission
A Niagara Regional Police officer and a male civilian had to be rescued from the Niagara gorge Tuesday night after they fell over a wall along River Rd., not far from the Rainbow Bridge.
“An officer and a male both fell over the retaining wall into the gorge between Otter and Eastwood on River Rd.,” NRP spokesman Const. Derek Watson said.
Police were not releasing many details Tuesday night because the rescue and investigation were still ongoing, he said.
Firefighters, paramedics and police were called to River Rd., south of Otter St., at 5: 18 p. m. Members of the fire department used ropes to rappel down the steep cliffside to the area where the two victims were.
A Niagara Helicopters pilot also flew into the gorge to help. Staff at the helicopter tour company frequently assist the fire department by shuttling rescuers into the gorge.
Two men were injured in the fall. Neither were identified by police as of early Tuesday evening.
An ambulance stood by on River Rd., while an air ambulance circled overhead and was reported to have landed in a nearby soccer field.
Watson would not comment on the nature of the injuries.
But he said Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit would be notified about the incident. The SIU looks into incidents when civilians die or are seriously injured during contact with police.
Watson would not comment on reports from River Rd. resi-
An officer and a male both fell over the retaining wall into the gorge.”
NRP spokesman Const. Derek Watson
dents who said they heard gunshots around the time the officer and man went over the wall.
Police would also not comment on a report from an Otter St. man who said he saw an officer detain a man and a woman just minutes before.
“A cop talked to the guy. (The man) leaned against the police car,” said Greg Taylor, whose family was sitting down to supper when the incident happened.
Taylor said he saw the officer talk to a man, and let him have a cigarette.
“When he reached in the car to get something, (the man) took off running,” Taylor said.
Shortly afterward, the 911 call came in about the fall into the gorge.
One woman who lives in the area said her daughter had noticed police cruisers all afternoon on nearby Ontario Ave.
Another neighbour said he saw police chasing a man on foot before they went over the wall.
“A guy came out of one of those houses and a police officer was chasing him,” said Mike Baldasio, who lives on River Rd. just north of where the men fell over the wall.
Another resident reported seeing similar events.
“All I know is the police officer was chasing a man and the police went over the wall,” said Lora-Lee Vince. “I heard screaming. A police officer was in pursuit. I saw two people jumped over.”
Vince said she also heard gunshots fired, but the police spokesman would not confirm whether shots were fired.