North Vancouver RCMP are thanking a group of brave bystanders for their help in reeling in suspects in a jewelry store heist.
Police were called to Peoples Jewellers in the Capilano Mall at about 10:30 a.m. on October 14th after an employee triggered an alarm.
Mounties say while four men smashed cases and grabbed about $200,000 worth of merchandise, a number of people at the mall decided to step in and take them down. Three of them got away after using bear spray, but one couldn't dodge the grasp of 29-year-old Ashley Russell-Taylor.
"I heard people yelling for security and then I saw someone running in my direction," Russell-Taylor told ctvbc.ca.
When he didn't see a weapon, the 29-year-old, who is about 6-4 and 225 pounds, calmly handed his young daughter off to someone he knew at the Lotto stand and grabbed the man trying to get away.
"I body-checked him into a pole, wrapped him up and took him to the ground," said Russell-Taylor. "I had his arm and was able to hold on to him."
He says a security guard and other Good Samaritans in hot pursuit were quick to give him a hand in subduing the suspect.
"Without the help of the public, this case would have been much more difficult to investigate," said Cpl. Peter DeVries, spokesperson for the North Vancouver RCMP.
Russell-Taylor says it all happened fast and he didn't get very worked up. "I've played in rougher basketball games." he said. "I didn't think anything of it at the time, now it's starting to sink in with all the publicity."
Russell-Taylor's actions, along with others who jumped in, helped North Vancouver RCMP capture three other suspects over the weekend.
Ahmad Ayoubi, 18, of Surrey, Jerry Bui, 18, of Burnaby, and 21-year-old Mouhmmad Sakandari of Burnaby are facing a robbery charge along with a youth who cannot be identified.
