Two men charged following ‘firearm incident’ at Niagara Falls hotel

UPDATE

Two people have been charged after police were called to a hotel in Niagara Falls over the weekend.

Officers responded to an incident at the hotel near Ferry St. and Clark Ave. around 5 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators learned two employees were inside the building when they were approached by a man who appeared to be armed with a gun.

Police say the suspect was then joined by four other males.

The employees managed to get away from the group and contacted police.

Two of the males fled the area in a vehicle that was stopped by officers a short distance away.

Members of the Emergency Task Unit and negotiators responded to the area and two other males were taken into custody while a third male remained inside the room.

After several hours, the fifth male was arrested without incident.

Three of the five men were later released while charges were laid against the other two.

Aslamkhan Siripathane, 26, is charged with robbery, possession of ammunition in a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm or weapon. Raza Syed Jafri, 21, faces robbery and possession of ammunition in a motor vehicle charges.

Both men are currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing.