A man who Niagara Falls Police believe is responsible for kidnapping a woman and chaining her in his basement has been arrested, according to Niagara Falls Police.
U.S. Marshals and the Niagara Falls Police Department searched for Michael Ciskiewic, 25, who authorities say took a woman from her home early Sunday morning. He was armed with a shotgun at the time.
The woman lived just a few doors away from Ciskiewic on Monroe Avenue.
Police were called to Monroe Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Sunday for reports of a possible assault.
They didn’t find anything there at the time, so they left.
Later in the day, the woman’s family called to report her missing.
When police returned, they found a bloody window and a trail along a nearby alley led a police bloodhound to his home, six doors down the street.
That’s where police said the woman was chained in the basement for 13 hours.
She told police Ciskiewic was inside, prompting a standoff that lasted for 12 hours.
Police called it a cat-and-mouse game that ended peacefully but without an arrest.
“Hostage negotiators made contact with [Ciskiewic] over the phone and, at times, he would say he was in the house and not coming out, and then at times he would say he wasn’t there,” said Niagara Falls Police Captain Kelly Rizzo. “He was instant messaging family members and telling them to tell us he wasn’t there which, of course, we just took with a grain of salt, but we held the house for hours trying all different methods.”
The victim is in the hospital.
Police said her injuries are not life-threatening, but they’re more concerned about the trauma that she went through during the whole ordeal.
Neighbors said they’re shocked by the incident.
Erick Jones said was forced to leave his home during the ordeal.
He said it came as a surprise the chaos was right next door.
“I was just out back behind the house, just messing around, and all of a sudden all these cops are everywhere,” Jones said. “I told my girlfriend to get in the house we stayed in there we watch the commotion for a little while and then they came up and knocked on the door and told us to get out.”
Police said they’re not sure why Ciskiewic took the woman from her home.
They said he used to mow her lawn and help with snow removal.