Kingston Police arrest suspect following west-end bank robbery

Police are reporting that one individual has been arrested following a robbery at a bank in Kingston’s west end this morning.

At approximately 10:44 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, members of Kingston Police on patrol responded to the report of a robbery at the Scotiabank location in the RioCan Centre on Gardiners Road at Development Drive.

“Information received indicated an individual had entered the financial institution and handed a note to an employee demanding money. The note also indicated that the individual was in possession of a firearm,” Kingston Police said in a press release later in the day.

Although the suspect had fled the bank, officers located the individual “a short distance from the financial institution,” Kingston Police said, noting that “a brief foot pursuit ensued.” Officers were able to apprehend the suspect, who was arrested at 10:48 a.m. – four minutes after police were initially dispatched to the robbery, according to Kingston Police.

A large police presence was notable in the area in the following hours, and the Scotiabank location closed for the day following the events. According to police, all of the currency obtained by the suspect was recovered, as was the note that the suspect used in the bank.

“No weapons were located in the suspect’s possession and police do not believe the suspect was ever in possession of a weapon,” Kingston Police said.

The 58-year-old suspect has been charged with robbery, and having a face mask/disguise (with the intent to commit an offence). The suspect was taken to Kingston Police Headquarters and held to attend a bail hearing on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.

In response to inquiries from Kingstonist, Const. Anthony Colangeli, Acting Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police, said that police are unable to release the identity of a charged individual until that person’s information has been sworn to before the courts. Suspects’ identification is usually sworn to before or at their bail hearings, Colangeli relayed, so the suspect’s identity cannot be released until Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at the earliest.