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Fruitvale robbery suspects in court today

Four suspects were slated for Rossland court on Monday, all facing charges stemming from a hold up in Fruitvale.
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Developing story - BC Liquor Store in Fruitvale was robbed this morning.

Four suspects appeared in Rossland court on Monday, all facing charges stemming from a hold up just off main street Fruitvale three days earlier.

Charged with robbery are Andreas Brall, Melody Hutchinson and Trevor Isenor. Isenor is also charged with use of an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence. A fourth suspect has also been charged.

The armed robbery happened at 9 a.m. Friday morning, when a male entered the BC Liquor Store in Fruitvale brandishing a handgun.

The suspect fled the scene with a large amount of cash.

Police were quick to track down the suspected robber and getaway vehicle - he and two others were arrested in Trail a short time later.

“We very quickly identified the person who went in from some tattoos and also from video surveillance,” RCMP Sgt. Darren Oelke told the Trail Times on Monday.

All three were taken into custody near the Bank of Montreal on Bay Avenue about an hour later - a large amount of money and a fake handgun were recovered at the scene.

“We also knew the vehicle they were using, when the description came up we knew right away which car it was,” said Oelke. “So it’s a result of them being very well known to the police, we were very familiar with the individuals and the vehicle.”

Subsequent investigation by the Trail and Greater District Detachment led to the arrest of the fourth suspect on Saturday.

Notably, the use of a fake firearm to carry out a crime is essentially viewed the same as the use of a real weapon.

“It is considered to be the same thing, but (worded) ‘imitation’ firearm,” said Oelke. “But the penalties are all the same.”



Sheri Regnier

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