Liquor store break-in prompts high-speed police chase on QEW
Posted November 3, 2011 7:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police are searching for three suspects who allegedly rammed a police cruiser and tried to run down an officer after attempting to rob a liquor store in the Niagara region Thursday morning.
Officers arrived at an LCBO at the Fairview Mall on Geneva Street in St. Catharines around 2:15 a.m. where they allegedly saw the men unloading bottles of booze into a white minivan that had been backed up to the front door of the store.
When officers moved their cruiser in front of the van to stop the men from escaping, the suspects got in the van and allegedly rammed the police car. Authorities also claim the suspect vehicle drove at an officer, forcing a fellow officer to fire at the van.
No officers were hurt.
The robbers managed to escape, prompting a high-speed police chase on the QEW—first eastbound and then westbound towards Hamilton, police said.
The van reached speeds of more than 180 kilometres per hour and police decided to call off the pursuit on the QEW near Fifty Road in Stoney Creek for safety reasons.
The suspects are described as:
#1
-White
-five feet eight inches tall, thin build
-Wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a white bandanna
#2
-Black
-six feet once inch tall, thin build
-Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt under a grey sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes
#3
-White,
-five feet eight inches tall, thin build
-Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a baseball cap
The suspect van is described as a white 1998 Dodge Caravan with the licence plate BKLC-759. It likely has damage to its middle passenger-side window. Police said it was stolen on Geneva Street shortly before the LCBO break-in.
Anyone with information is asked to call (905) 688-3911 ext. 4272 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
