They thought they had succeeded in their crime, but left empty-handed: while trying to rob a drug dealer, a bandit would have injured his leg while tripping. This incredible story occurred a few weeks before the arrest of the suspects by the Organized Crime Division (DCO) of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
Daijoan Crichlow, Jamal February Clarke and Nicholas Rapatsouleas appeared at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday shortly after their arrest in Lasalle.
They are among other charges of possession of a firearm, pointing a firearm, conspiracy and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The prosecution opposed their release on Thursday.
Another 19-year-old man was released on a promise to appear.
A 30-year-old woman was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and later released on parole. A 15-year-old minor was also arrested during the police operation.
The searches concerning this file were carried out Thursday at dawn. According to our information, the bandits wanted to rob a drug dealer at the end of March. The targeted man took to his heels. He took refuge in a nearby building and then in a condo.
The suspects – presumably armed – would therefore have left empty-handed. But during the short chase on foot, Crichlow reportedly tripped and seriously injured his leg. His accomplices would then have transported him to the hospital following this failed robbery attempt. He was walking with a cane at the time of his arrest, still injured after his fall, noted La Presse.
As for the victim, the alleged trafficker pursued, he refused to cooperate with the police and did not file a complaint.
DCO investigators became aware of this theft plot during another drug trafficking investigation, again according to our sources.
Six suspects were arrested in connection with this case, the SPVM said in a press release on Friday. Six firearms were seized during Thursday’s operation, it added.
Searches were also carried out in the borough of LaSalle as well as in the municipalities of Pointe-Claire and Vaudreuil. “In addition to illegal firearms, investigators were able to seize ammunition, brass knuckles, sachets of cannabis gummies and various quantities of cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy) and Xanax,” the statement said.
The investigation and the arrests were led by the anti-gang unit of the Organized Crime Division, with the collaboration of several SPVM support units and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) tactical intervention group (GTI).
With Daniel Renaud, The Press