A manhunt for a 25-year-old man was underway on June 10 after police found a woman chained in his basement a day after she was reported missing.
Police officers were outside a house in Niagara Falls, New York, overnight on June 9 because they thought the armed suspect, Michael Ciskiewic, was inside. When they finally realized he was not, they entered and found the woman.
The homeowner was listed as John Ciskiewic. His relation with the suspect was not clear.
Police officers went to the house early Sunday morning after getting a call about an assault. There was no one at the house but there was a broken window and a trail of blood leading down an alley, reported WKBW. When night turned to day, police started searching for a woman who had been reported missing by her family.
Niagara Falls – NFPD, State Police and County are currently in the 3000 block of Monroe Avenue. Forcible entry made into a house for reasons unknown right now. Will update when we find out more. Police and swat are still on scene at 19th and Niagara Street. pic.twitter.com/lde7LKVelQ
— The Action Niagara Falls (@TheAction716) June 9, 2019
They used a bloodhound to follow the trail and came upon a house about a block away.
Officers made contact with a person inside and broke in, finding the missing woman chained in the basement.
The woman has not been identified.
A ‘standoff’ took place and lasted about 12 hours starting on Sunday afternoon, reported the Niagara Gazette. Officers realized the suspect was not inside after officers, trying to end what they believed was a standoff, broke windows and hurled CO2 gas inside.
Officers were waiting around 24 hours to enter the house and obtain evidence, Niagara Falls Detective Captain Kelly Rizzo said.
The scene is clear on Monroe. What was believed to be a stand-off is turning into a manhunt. Police are looking for 25-year-old Michael J. Ciskiewic. He’s connected to a situation where a woman was found chained in this basement. https://t.co/7rSEt0Rql2 pic.twitter.com/XkE4pAGnDf
— Jeff Slawson (@Jeffslawson) June 10, 2019
NF CRIME NEWS: Niagara Falls Police are searching for this man, Michael Ciskiewic, who is accused of chaining a woman in a basement on Monroe Avenue and raping her in the last twenty-four hours. The victim was found by a bloodhound and is currently receiving medical treatment. pic.twitter.com/Y2TGhaDH3s
— The Niagara Reporter (@reporterniagara) June 10, 2019
Suspect
In a news conference on Monday, authorities said that Ciskiewic could be armed; the woman he had chained up said he had a shotgun.
The victim told police that the man knocked on her door around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and dragged her from her house to his basement, Rizzo told reporters, according to journalist Breanna Fuss.
Rizzo says that Ciskiewic only knew the woman because he would mow her lawn during the summer and remove snow during the winter.
Victim told police she knocked on her door around 1:30 Sunday morning and then dragged her from her home, through the alley and into his basement. Rizzo says she was chained in the basement for about 13 hours.
— Breanna Fuss (@BreannaFuss) June 10, 2019
Rizzo says Ciskiewic would mow her lawn and remove snow. That’s the extent of their relationship.
— Breanna Fuss (@BreannaFuss) June 10, 2019
The U.S. Marshals were helping the Niagara Falls Police Department in the manhunt, authorities said.
The victim was still in the hospital.
Her injuries weren’t serious but officials were concerned about the trauma she went through.
