Update - OPP, SQ and Mirabel Police

HAWKESBURY, ON, Feb. 24 /CNW/ - On February 3, 2010, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Mirabel Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) executed search warrants in Mirabel, Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec and Hawkesbury, Ontario in relation to several serious criminal offences.

On February 19, 2010 the OPP and SQ conducted a further search warrant and made an additional arrest in relation to a home invasion in which shots were fired.

Between November 26, 2009 and February 3, 2010, police investigated armed robberies, home invasions and break and enters that involved violence.

The SQ, Mirabel Police and the OPP launched a joint investigation into several suspects under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. As a result, a total of 174 criminal charges have now been laid in relation to 9 separate incidents. Additional charges have been laid against previous suspects.

    
    The charges are in relation to:

    1.  A break-in that occurred between November 26 and 27, 2009 at
        Stephanie's Restaurant, located on Highway 34 in Champlain Township,
        Ontario in which an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.

    2.  A home invasion that occurred on November 30, 2009 at a residence in
        Vankleek Hill, Ontario in which the home owner was assaulted by
        masked suspects. Jewellery and cash were stolen.

    3.  A home invasion in Mirabel, Québec on December 14, 2009 in which a
        female resident was bound and a safe, containing cash, was taken.

    4.  A robbery on December 16, 2009 where the victim was lured to a
        residence in Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec. The victim was bound, driven
        from the scene and left abandoned in his vehicle, after the suspects
        stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

    5.  An armed robbery at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in
        Hawkesbury that occurred on December 23, 2009. The armed suspects
        fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

    6.  A home invasion in St-Anne de Prescott on January 26, 2010 in which
        shots were fired. No one was injured.

    7.  A home invasion at a Hawkesbury residence on December 23, 2010 in
        which a man in his senior years was threatened.

    8.  On February 3, 2010, an adult male reported his credit cards stolen.

    9.  A break and enter that occurred at a residence in Lachute, Québec in
        which Sûreté du Québec (SQ) officers surprised the suspects,
        apprehending two of them.

    Charged are:

    1.  Martin PAQUIN-LAROCQUE, 19 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec with 18
        Criminal Code offences including break-and-enter, conspiracy,
        disguise with intent, robbery with violence and robbery with firearm.

    2.  Pascal NORMAND, 32 of Lachute, Quebec for robbery with 28 Criminal
        Code charges including break-and-enter, conspiracy, theft of credit
        card, theft over $5000, possession of weapon dangerous, point
        firearm, robbery with firearm, robbery with violence and robbery and
        wounding

    3.  Vincent MAURICE, 18 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec with 19 Criminal
        Code charges including conspiracy, robbery with firearm,
        break-and-enter and theft of credit card.

    4.  Josee MAURICE, 36 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec with 23 Criminal Code
        charges including conspiracy, theft of credit card, robbery with
        violence, break, enter and theft, and robbery with firearm.

    5.  France MAURICE, 39 of Hawkesbury Township, Ontario with 21 Criminal
        Code charges including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, robbery
        with firearm, break-and-enter, robbery with violence and theft of
        credit card.

    6.  Marcel LAROCQUE, 41 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec with 41 Criminal
        Code charges including theft of credit card, break-and-enter, robbery
        with violence, conspiracy, discharge firearm, robbery with firearm,
        disguise with intent, careless use of a firearm, possession of weapon
        obtained by crime and obstruct police.

    7.  Patrick PLOUFFE, 30 with 19 criminal code charges including
        break-and-enter, robbery with violence, point firearm, possession of
        weapon dangerous, conspiracy and robbery with firearm.

    8.  Mathieu DESABRAIS, 25 of Lachute, Quebec with 6 Criminal Code charges
        including possession of break-in instruments, disguise with intent,
        conspiracy and break-and-enter.

    9.  Robert ST-JEAN, 35 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec was charged in
        relation to the break-and-enter in Lachute, Quebec with break-and
        enter. He appeared in St-Jerome, Quebec in January, 2010 and pled
        guilty to the charge.

    10. Michel LECUYER, 38 of Hawkesbury with 3 criminal code charges
        including conspiracy, break-and-enter and robbery with a firearm.

    11. Bruno DUBE, 19 of Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec with 3 Criminal Code
        charges including conspiracy, break-and-enter and robbery with a
        firearm.
    

Each accused has been remanded into custody or released on conditions.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Mirabel Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) worked diligently to solve these crimes. The investigation will now be focussing on incidents in the Province of Quebec.

For further information: Sergeant Kristine Rae, [phone] (cell)