A 42-year-old Chilliwack man suspected in the robberies at two Squamish banks and a local home last year is in custody in Kamloops accused of a long string of robberies from the coast to the Interior and as far north as 100 Mile House.
Cpl. Dave Ritchie of the Squamish RCMP said police from many B.C. communities submitted reports to officials in Kamloops. The RCMP and Crown counsel are working together to determine how to proceed with all the allegations against the individual.
Ritchie said the man's name could not be released in conjunction with the Squamish files, including robberies at the Scotiabank and Bank of Montreal, because formal charges are not in place.
Ritchie did say the weapon the suspect flashed in one robbery, a pellet pistol, was recovered from the roof of a building near the bank. According to Ritchie, the weapon was stolen from a home in Squamish.
California pair offer drugs to police
Two real estate developers from the U.S. probably wish their lost luggage stayed lost.
Michael Alen Dumke, 39, and Reed Andrew Westphal, 30, were returning from Whistler on March 6 when the back door of the small luxury bus came open and a black duffel bag fell out north of Squamish.
Ritchie said a vehicle filled with an off-duty RCMP member, spouses of RCMP members and a civilian police employee saw the bag come out of the vehicle. The good Samaritans stopped to pick it up and then successfully reunited the bag with the owner.
The thankful owner of the bag recognized the woman who returned his bag as someone he remembered seeing in Whistler the night before. The man gave her a hug and offered a reward of some drugs to the off-duty RCMP member. The member of the RCMP also observed what she believed was drug residue on the man's face, Ritchie said.
The off-duty member declined the offer and then called the Squamish RCMP.
The luxury bus was pulled over and searched just north of Garibaldi Way.
Ritchie said a quantity of marijuana and cocaine was seized.
Dumke and Westphal were released on a promise to return for future court hearings.
Fishing boat robbed
A report of two people taking items off the St. John's Fishing Lodge prompted a lengthy RCMP search on Friday (Mar. 11).
Police learned at 9:24 a.m. two men were moving items off the fishing lodge and onto an aluminum boat at the former Nexen site, said Ritchie. Police began what turned out to be a long search for two suspects.
The aluminum boat left the scene and was seen moving toward the Squamish River Estuary and the windsurfing spit.
There was a report indicating one suspect was dumped on the shore and hopped onto a mountain bike. Police later found a person matching the description and the suspect was detained.
Local pilots helped the police by reporting sightings of the aluminum boat to the RCMP. Ritchie said the boat was located later in the day with a Squamish resident on board.
Ritchie also said a cache of stolen goods from the fishing lodge was located near the Squamish River. The recovered items included stereos, fishing reels and various pieces of marine equipment.
Stereo thief busted
Police arrested a Squamish man early Monday (Mar. 14) after a private security company employee reported a disturbance at Greg Gardner GM to the RCMP.
Police responded and called in a canine team.
One suspect was found and arrested. Ritchie said the 26-year-old from Squamish may face charges of mischief, theft, and possession of stolen property charges when he is scheduled to appear in court on April 26.
Ritchie said the police believe the 26-year-old didn't act alone but no other suspect was located.
