NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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Update One
The investigation by detectives into this incident remains ongoing. Following the detailed review of videos submitted by the public, it was determined that four persons were in fact involved in this incident.
The unknown 4th suspect is described as male, 15 – 17 years old, brown skin, possibly wearing grey pants and a dark top.
Businesses and/or residents in the area bound by the 406 Highway, Decew Road, Merrittville Highway and Sir Isaac Brock Way are asked to review their closed circuit cameras for this male, paying particular attention to the period between 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2020. Anyone who may have photos or videos of any part of this incident are asked to email it to [email protected]
Anyone with more information are asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, extension 9470.
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Original Release
On Jan. 31, 2020, at approximately 4:50 p.m. 1 District – St. Catharines uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of an armed robbery at a St. Catharines bank.
Officers received information that the bank had been robbed by three masked males with at least one handgun displayed during the robbery. Officers attended to the Bank of Montreal in the area of King Street and William Street in St. Catharines. The arriving officer observed three masked males flee on foot and enter a black Volkswagen and initiated a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit was aborted shortly thereafter out of a concern for public safety.
Members of the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) then observed the suspect vehicle a short time later near Decew Road and Merrittville Highway. A vehicle pursuit was again initiated, that concluded when the suspect vehicle's tires blew out in the area of St. David's Road and the south bound lanes of the 406 Highway. Three suspects ran from the vehicle and officers then initiated a foot pursuit in the area of Schmon Parkway and Sir Isaac Brock Way.
NRPS officers from the Emergency Task Unit (ETU), K9 Unit, patrol officers from St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) all descended into the area to contain and locate the suspects.
As an officer was making a physical arrest of one of the suspects, another suspect stole the officer's marked NRPS cruiser. Officers initiated another vehicle pursuit of the stolen police cruiser that then concluded when the suspect hit a parked car in the area of Keefer Road and Manley Crescent in Thorold. Following another short foot pursuit, that suspect was arrested.
Two other suspects were also arrested in the area of Schmonn Parkway and Sir Isaac Brock Way.
The subsequent investigation is being led by 1 District detectives. Detectives from the Forensic Services Unit have been involved in the forensic examination of the five scenes.
A 15-year-old male from Mississauga is charged with the alleged Criminal Code of Canada offences of:
- Robbery with a firearm
- Flight from police
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Dangerous drive
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
- Theft of motor vehicle
- Pointing a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
- Disguise with intent
A 16-year-old male from Toronto is charged with the alleged Criminal Code of Canada offences of:
- Robbery with a firearm
- Flight from police
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Dangerous drive
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
- Theft of motor vehicle
- Pointing a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
- Disguise with intent
- Fail to comply with a probation order (two counts)
- Possession Contrary to order
Roel Lloyd (18 years) of Mississauga is charged with the alleged Criminal Code of Canada offences of:
- Robbery with a firearm
- Flight from police
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Dangerous drive
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (two counts)
- Theft of motor vehicle
- Pointing a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
- Disguise with intent
The Youth Criminal Justice Act of Canada prohibits the NRPS from releasing the identity of charged persons under 18 years of age.
There were no physical injuries to the bank employees, members of the public or officers.
Two NRPS police cruisers sustained minor damage. The suspect vehicle and the parked vehicle in Thorold also sustained damage. The suspect vehicle was determined to have been stolen from the Brampton area approximately two weeks ago.
A quantity of money has been recovered.
Anyone who may have photos or videos of any part of this incident are asked to email it to [email protected]
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact 905-688-4111, extension 9470.
Incident #2020-9510
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