Brampton man arrested in west-end TD Bank robbery
Posted April 23, 2013 5:23 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Toronto police have arrested a Brampton man in Sunday’s TD Bank robbery in which two people were wounded by gunfire.
Toronto police staff inspector Mike Earl said it was forensic evidence at the scene that led them to one of two suspects wanted in connection with the bank hold-up.
Police are still looking for a suspect who shot a teller while firing at the customer.
The suspects can be seen on security video — one of them brandishing a handgun and the other leaping over the counter at a TD bank branch on St. Clair Avenue near Runnymede Road shortly after noon Sunday.
As the second suspect leaps back over the counter, he is tackled by a customer and the first suspect shoots at the customer, but strikes a 22-year-old teller in her thigh.
Watch video
Police said the 54-year-old customer then chased the suspects into the parking lot, where he was shot in the abdomen.
The teller is expected to recover. The customer is recovering in hospital and underwent surgery to remove his spleen, part of his pancreas and part of a kidney.
Earl advises those facing a similar situation to avoid intervening and cooperate.
“If somebody is demanding your money or your watch, cooperate with them, because we don’t want people getting hurt.”
But Earl adds this is on the suspect armed with a firearm.
“He brought a loaded firearm to a bank robbery and obviously, he was prepared to use it.”
Earl says bank employees receive training to cooperate for the safety of everyone in the bank.
“They’re trained to cooperate with the robber because the money isn’t what we’re after,” he said. “What we’re concerned about is public safety and employee safety.”
Police said the suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, although it is believed a bank security ink device may have stained most of the money.
A stolen green four-door Honda Civic, sought by police, was located Sunday night in the Jane Street and Wilson Avenue area, police said.
The Canadian Bankers Association is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
