A bank robbery suspect in Mission, B.C. has finally been captured after taking a woman hostage in her own home.
Around 1 p.m. on Friday, RCMP say man walked into the Scotiabank in downtown Mission. The man allegedly demanded money, saying he had a bomb.
RCMP say the man then fled the scene with a small amount of cash, leaving behind a bag. The area was evacuated, but police determined the bag did not contain a bomb.
Around 9:30 p.m. on the same day, RCMP confronted a man matching the suspect’s description. When police tried to speak to him the man allegedly ran, forcing his way into a home on Fleming Avenue and taking the lone woman inside the home hostage.
The woman was released unharmed at 4 a.m. Saturday, after nearly seven hours of being held hostage. The suspect surrendered to police two hours later and was arrested.
Residents in the area are still rattled after the night’s events.
John - who asked to be identified by his first name only - and his wife had just finished watching a movie when they noticed a heavy police presence in front of their home. Armed policemen came to the door numerous times, eventually telling the couple that the area was being evacuated.
“We ran around the house, got the dog’s leash and stuff like that…and we just drove out around the block and started talking to neighbours,” says John, who eventually spend the night at the local fire station. “I was sort of running on adrenaline [at the time]. It honestly didn’t really register.”
Police say the 34-year-old suspect had an outstanding Canada wide warrant for breach of parole at the time of his arrest, as well as an extensive criminal record.
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released, and charges have not yet been laid. The investigation is ongoing.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Julie Nolin
