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Montreal police on Friday announced they had made three arrests in connection with an incident on April 7 that saw one of a trio of alleged car thieves steer a vehicle onto a downtown sidewalk and strike a police officer.
The incident occurred at 2 p.m. on Stanley St. as officers answered a report concerning a stolen car. Officers arriving at the scene saw four suspicious vehicles on Stanley St. near Sherbrooke St. One of the officers approached one of the vehicles, a black BMW sedan, in order to speak to the driver. Rather than answering the police officer, the driver struck the officer with the vehicle as he drove it up on the sidewalk and then drove north against traffic to escape, police said.
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The other suspects were also able to flee the scene by performing “other dangerous manoeuvres” in the midst of numerous pedestrians and vehicles, police said.
One of the suspects, age 18, was quickly tracked to a downtown residence. A search of the dwelling yielded tools used to steal cars.
Two other suspects, ages 20 and 25, were arrested May 8 in an apartment in Outremont. A SWAT team was deployed because of the level of risk involved in the operation, police said. Car theft tools were also recovered at the second scene.
Two of the three suspects appeared in court to face charges of car theft, fleeing police and dangerous driving. One of the pair, suspected to having driven the car that struck the police officer, is also expected to face charges of armed assault and breaking court-ordered conditions.
The third suspect was freed pending his next court appearance and is subject to strict release conditions.
Police say they have reason to believe a fourth suspect was also involved in the April 7 incident and, with the other three suspects, is responsible for other recent car thefts in Montreal
Anyone with any information that can further the investigation is urged to call 911, call their local police or call Info-Crime Montreal at 514-393-1133.
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