Garry Amyot went to Scotiabank in Abbotsford on Wednesday (June 2) to check on the status of a new bank card, but instead he helped thwart an armed robbery.
Amyot, 68, was one of four customers inside the bank on Gladwin Road and South Fraser Way who tackled the gun-wielding culprit before the suspect could leave the premises.
Amyot said he was in a line to inquire about his new card at about 11:30 a.m. when another customer walked past the line, and Amyot noticed the person was acting unusual.
B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden, the guy walks in past us, pulls out a 12-gauge shotgun and yells out, B次元官网网址楨verybody! This is a bank robbery, nobody move!B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Amyot said.
B次元官网网址淪o IB次元官网网址檓 looking from a little distance and I see the shotgun, and I own and know firearms so IB次元官网网址檓 thinking this is pretty serious, but IB次元官网网址檓 also thinking, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not going to die today.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�
The suspect threw a bag to Amyot, who then passed it to a teller. As the tellers began filling the bag with money, Amyot shared a glance with another customer behind the suspect and the wheels began turning in his head.
B次元官网网址淲hen I looked at that guy I just knew he was going to do something no matter what,B次元官网网址� Amyot said, noting he could tell the fellow customer looked irritated. B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to let him do this by himself. I winked at him and that was the green light B次元官网网址� we were comrades in this situation.B次元官网网址�
Suddenly, the other man in line grabbed the suspectB次元官网网址檚 gun and pointed it straight up to avoid anyone getting hurt. Amyot quickly followed and tackled the suspect.
B次元官网网址淚t all happened so freaking fast,B次元官网网址� Amyot said. B次元官网网址淭he other guy grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and then milliseconds later B次元官网网址� bang! B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e all on the ground. IB次元官网网址檝e got my arms around his back and my elbow in his face and we have him pinned down. The gun was on the floor and I remember telling someone, B次元官网网址楰ick that gun out of the way!B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�
Two other customers assisted in restraining the suspect until the police arrived a few minutes later.
B次元官网网址淚t was so surreal; it all happened so fast,B次元官网网址� Amyot said.
RELATED:
Amyot, who has about 15 years of martial arts training, said the situation was intense but he felt confident.
B次元官网网址淚t was all instinct,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut my adrenaline was pumping so fast after that.B次元官网网址�
Amyot, who works at Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Abbotsford, said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are his days off but after the incident at the bank he decided to engage in some liquid counselling.
B次元官网网址淚 went and had something to eat because I hadnB次元官网网址檛 ate anything all day but the next thing I did was go to the liquor store. I bought a case of beer, came home, had a shot of tequila and a beer or two,B次元官网网址� he said.
When Amyot arrived home after the incident, he discovered that the bank card he had gone to the bank to check on had arrived in the mail.
He said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 consider himself a hero and just wanted everyone in the bank to be safe.
Amyot has lived in Abbotsford on and off for the past two decades and said he thinks it would be nice for the man who stopped the suspect and himself to receive some sort of recognition from the city.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 be OK with getting some sort of commendation or a placard or a medal from the city of Abbotsford,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e just happened to be in the right place at the right time.B次元官网网址�
He also said heB次元官网网址檇 be OK with getting some sort of acknowledgement or tip of the hat from Scotiabank itself.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good that it all came out the way it came out, but IB次元官网网址檇 be fine if Scotiabank decided to take care of whatever is left on my credit card for me,B次元官网网址� he joked.
The 46-year-old suspect remains in police custody facing numerous charges, including robbery and weapons offences. Police are continuing to investigate.
