VIDEO: Robbery suspects chased through Toronto forest by police; Mississauga teen, Brampton man among 4 charged
Published December 19, 2024 at 10:08 am
A dramatic foot chase through a west Toronto forest led police to the arrests of a 16-year-old Mississauga boy, a Brampton man and two others in connection with a violent jewelry store robbery in Richmond Hill on Tuesday afternoon.
Video from a York Regional Police helicopter involved in the pursuit (see below) shows images of four figures on the ground making their way through a wooded area by an apartment building near Highway 27 and Finch Avenue about an hour after the 3:30 p.m. heist.
Moments earlier, the video from the sky showed four males stepping out of an SUV in the building’s parking lot and then running into the forest.
“They are walking, sort of jogging, with bags in their hands,” a police officer on board the helicopter relays to his colleagues on the ground.
A short pause, then he adds, “and they know we’re here.”
As the four figures continue to move through the woods, the officer in the sky is heard directing police on the ground who are shown to be moving in on the males.
“… you’re about 30 metres away from them if you go directly east,” comes word from Air 2, the police helicopter, to one of the officers in pursuit.
After briefly entering a multi-level parking lot, the four fleeing figures then move back into the forest.
“All running now, eastbound in the woods,” the police voice from Air 2 says. “Numerous officers are out, canine (unit) is out. I believe two are in custody, one is still running…”
Moments later, word from a police dispatcher confirms arrests have been made.
“10-4, all four in custody” at 4:32 p.m., the dispatcher says.
“Nice work, boys,” a police officer is then heard relaying.
The short foot pursuit came about an hour after the robbery at a jewelry store in the area of Yonge Street and Levendale Road in Richmond Hill, police say.
Three males entered the store around 3:30 p.m. and used hammers to smash glass display cases, according to investigators.
During the robbery, police say, one of the males assaulted a store employee, who suffered minor injuries.
After grabbing an amount of jewelry, the culprits fled in a silver SUV driven by a fourth male, police said.
The police helicopter spotted the fleeing SUV a short time later, police said, tracking it into Toronto and the Highway 27/Finch Avenue apartment complex, where it parked.
Police later confirmed the SUV to have been stolen.
Marlando Mitchell, 24, of Brampton, Che Brooks-Baptiste, 20, of Burlington, and two 16-year-old boys, one of Mississauga and the other from Toronto, are charged with:
- robbery with an offensive weapon
- disguise with intent
- two counts possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Mitchell and the two youths were out on release orders at the time of the robbery, police noted.
The investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Marlando Mitchell, 24, of Brampton.
Che Brooks-Baptiste, 20, of Burlington. (Photos: York Regional Police)