The quick actions of bank customers, staff and Williams Lake RCMP resulted in the arrest of a bank robbery suspect in Williams Lake Tuesday afternoon.
Insp. Jeff Pelley said a 39 year old 100 Mile House resident was arrested during the incident and may face robbery charges.
Pelley said at 4:19 p.m. the Williams Lake RCMP received a report of a robbery in progress at the CIBC bank located at 220 Oliver Street. The bank employees reported that a man entered the premises and demanded money from a teller.
“Due to the immediate assistance of two astute customers and a timely response by RCMP the man was arrested and taken into custody without incident,” Pelley said in a news release. “No employees of the CIBC bank were injured during the incident.”
At 4:30 p.m. several officers were inside the bank gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Outside the bank a witness told the Tribune they saw a man being taken away in handcuffs at about 4:20 p.m.
Pelley said the investigation is in its preliminary stages by the General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Unit. Charges of robbery will be recommended to Crown Counsel on Nov. 29th, 2017.
“The RCMP remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact your local police department or should you wish to remain anonymous, telephone Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).”
This is the second robbery at the CIBC bank in Williams Lake in as many weeks.
The RCMP have not said whether the two robberies are connected.
