Seven-hour Skyway closure tied to stabbing in Niagara Falls

A stabbing in Niagara Falls led to the chain of events that saw the Garden City Skyway closed for nearly seven hours overnight Sunday into Monday, police say.

Traffic was closed in both directions on the Skyway from about 7 p.m. until the Buffalo-bound lanes of the QEW were reopened at 2:25 a.m. Monday, and then the Toronto-bound lanes at 3:40 a.m., according to Niagara Regional Police.

Police say the incident started at 6:10 p.m. Sunday when officers responded to a reported disturbance in Niagara Falls, in the Jubilee Drive and Redhaven Crescent area.

A woman in her 20s suffered what police said was a serious stab wound. She was taken to a local hospital, then flown by Ornge air ambulance to an out-of-region hospital.

Police say a male suspect was seen fleeing in a red Kia, and was involved in a crash near the top of the Skyway in the Toronto-bound lanes.

The suspect got out of his vehicle, police say, which started a standoff with police officers. Traffic in both directions was stopped and the on-scene officers negotiated with the suspect until NRP crisis negotiators arrived.

Numerous police crews were there, including officers from the NRP domestic violence and emergency task units, detectives, as well as OPP, the Niagara Parks Police and St. Catharines fire department high-angle rescue teams and paramedics.

Police say the suspect was arrested at about 2 a.m., and traffic in both directions reopened within a few hours.

Police say the stabbing was a targeted incident, and the suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered prior to police involvement.

Aaron Acton, 37, of St. Catharines is charged with criminal harassment and attempted murder. He was held in custody for a bail hearing in St. Catharines.

Police ask anyone with information on the stabbing incident in Niagara Falls, or who may have witnessed it, to contact investigators at 905-688-4111, ext. 1022200.