A bank robbery was foiled in Campbell River thanks to an observant bus driver Thursday afternoon.
Campbell River RCMP responded to a report of a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal downtown around 2:30 p.m. on June 2. According to witnesses, a masked man entered the bank and presented a note demanding money from one of the tellers. He was given what police call a B次元官网网址渟ubstantial amount of cashB次元官网网址� and fled the bank on foot. Witnesses also saw the man changing clothes a short distance away.
BC Transit driver Doug Gallant saw the RCMP vehicles heading to the scene, and continued on his normal route. Near the Campbell River Community Centre he picked up a rider who was wearing all camouflage, had his face covered and, according to Gallant was B次元官网网址渒ind of jittery.B次元官网网址� Knowing something was up, Gallant let the man ride the bus, and continued on his route.
As he passed the Bank of Montreal, GallantB次元官网网址檚 suspicions continued.
B次元官网网址淚 asked him B次元官网网址榟ey where you goinB次元官网网址�?B次元官网网址� He said he was just riding the bus around and that heB次元官网网址檇 had a bit of a rough dayB次元官网网址� he was just mumbling about various things,B次元官网网址� Gallant said. B次元官网网址淚 picked up the radio and tried calling our base, but they were in a meeting. Then I realized I canB次元官网网址檛 say much over the radio because itB次元官网网址檚 not like we were told that RCMP were looking for somebody, I didnB次元官网网址檛 even know what had happened.B次元官网网址�
Gallant decided to hurry along the route to the Erickson Road stop at the south end of Campbell River. Once he got to the end of the route, Gallant got out of the bus and phoned the RCMP.
B次元官网网址淚 said I was a BC Transit driver, and that I knew they couldnB次元官网网址檛 give details, but I saw what was going on downtown and asked if they were looking for somebody. They asked B次元官网网址榳hat is the person wearing?B次元官网网址� I said he was all in camo, so they immediately put me through to the desk. It was that quick,B次元官网网址� Gallant said. B次元官网网址淚 was like B次元官网网址榶eah, I knew it, this was the guy.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�
However, all of the RCMPB次元官网网址檚 vehicles were still at the bank.
Gallant said he stayed on the phone with the detachment, giving them more information.
B次元官网网址淭he guy on the phone said they had one unit there now, but had no backup and were getting there as quickly as possible. He asked some more questions about where he was sitting and that kind of thing,B次元官网网址� Gallant said.
Two more RCMP cars showed up.
B次元官网网址淭he next thing I knew, the guy on the phone confirmed he was on the bus,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭hen he said B次元官网网址極K theyB次元官网网址檙e coming.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
What happened next was B次元官网网址渏ust like a scene out of a movie,B次元官网网址� Gallant said.
B次元官网网址淭he SWAT team just surrounded the whole vehicle. The under covers were off to the right by the Shell, and they were literally just walking on to the bus as about 10 vehicles surrounded it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey walked on, they walked straight up to him, he stood up and they turned him around, put handcuffs on him and arrested him without incident.B次元官网网址�
Gallant, who has been a transit driver for 11 years, has never seen anything like this.
RCMP say the 42-year old was well known to them, and he was in custody to attend court on Friday.
B次元官网网址淚t was pretty surreal being right in the middle of all that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was hard for me because there were people on the bus who I knew, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to say anything to anyone. I just kept quiet, kind of played along.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his was the best possible outcome that we could hope for in such a situation,B次元官网网址� said Const. Maury Tyre. B次元官网网址淭he quick response by police and the excellent witnesses allowed the incident to come to a conclusion without anyone being injured and the stolen funds being recovered.B次元官网网址�
The investigation is ongoing.
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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