Three suspects are now in police custody following an armed robbery at a downtown Collingwood jewelry store and a manhunt into Clearview Township, which saw the OPP helicopter and canine units combing the area near Collingwood Regional Airport last night.
Police say a firearm was "discharged" in the store during the robbery.
"None of the store employees of the store were physically injured in the incident," OPP said in a news release Tuesday morning .
Collingwood OPP Const. Martin Hachey confirmed on Tuesday morning that a firearm was discharged during a robbery at D.C. Taylor Jewellers at about 3 p.m. on Dec. 4. Three suspects fled the scene in a dark coloured SUV.
“I can’t confirm details on official charges or names, but we have three individuals under arrest for that occurrence,” said Hachey. “They fled the area. We were able to patrol as we got information on their last direction of travel. We located the vehicle and the individuals.”
Shown in video from Collingwood Town Hall’s livestream camera, three people are seen walking toward the store from the north end of town. All three were wearing hooded sweaters; one grey, and the other two black.
The video shows three people enter the store and a short time later all three come running out the door and go north again and out of the frame. Shortly after the three people fled the store, police arrived and eventually taped off the area while several bystanders appear to have spoken with the officers at the scene.
The door to the shop was smashed. The video appears to show glass coming from the front of the store shortly before the three people come out running.
Officers obtained a description of the suspect vehicle, which had been reported stolen by Toronto Police Services.
Later in the evening, multiple police vehicles were spotted rushing to and at the Collingwood Regional Airport in Clearview Township. Officers located the abandoned SUV in a field near County Road 124 and the 30/31 Sideroad just south of Nottawa.
Hachey confirmed members of the Huronia West OPP, OPP Canine, OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) as well as OPP Aviation Services were all on scene in Clearview Township to assist in the search.
“We pulled every resource we had,” said Hachey. “This eventually led to the arrest of all three suspects.”
Hachey said that no one was physically injured during the robbery.
“It was quite chaotic, but thankfully, in the end, it was a good outcome,” he said.
Hachey said more information will be released in the coming days.
“Our investigation is continuing,” he said.
Investigation is ongoing at this time and anyone with information is asked call Collingwood OPP at 1-705-445-4321 or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also leave an anonymous tip online at www.crimestopperssdm.com/.
