Station 9 Police Report

Click to enlarge. Free Press. Jan. 29, 2013.

Motorist pepper-sprayed

Station 9 Police Watch

Isaac Olson, The Free Press

October 23, 2012

Station 9’s Constable Vincent DeAngelis commended a young Côte St. Luc resident’s courage and ability to stay calm and within the confines of the law during a violent, seemingly unprovoked road-rage assault.

On October 5, just after 4:30 pm, the 20-year-old victim was driving on Mackle Rd. near the somewhat confusing Stephen Leacock Ave. intersection, said DeAngelis. The area, under heavy construction, has been difficult to navigate in recent weeks and the driver was taking longer than usual at a stop sign as he sorted out which way he was supposed to go. A 22-year-old motorist behind him, however, did not appreciate the delay and started honking. The victim says he indicated, with a hand gesture, that he needed one minute to sort out which direction to go, said DeAngelis. In response, the suspect exited his vehicle and approached the victim. The victim rolled down his window to talk to the other driver, but the suspect unloaded a can of pepper spray into the young man’s face. The suspect then hopped back into his car and took off, said DeAngelis, but the victim was able to regain his composure and follow the suspect to Cavendish Blvd. to record his license plate.

In the mean time, however, the suspect noticed he was being tailed, spotted some friends nearby, demanded their help and, together, they crowded around the victim’s car at a stoplight and started pounding on the vehicle. The pepper-spraying suspect went as far as to smash the rear window.

After the suspects fled, a witness approached the victim, handed him his business card and said, “I’m a lawyer. I saw everything. Let me know if you need any help with pressing charges.”

With the license plate and witness reports, it didn’t take long for police to track down and arrest the suspect at his home in CSL. The suspect’s vehicle was searched and the pepper-spray can was found in the car. The suspect has not said a word, said DeAngelis and because the case is still being investigated, the police cannot release his name.

So far, the suspect faces several charges such as mischief and armed aggression that could, if convicted, lead to a prison sentence.

News from Police Station 9

 

Isaac Olson, The Free Press

September 11, 2012

 

Watch Crowbar-wielding senior sends man to hospital

In a road-rage case where the attacked became the attacker, a 75-year-old man pummelled a 57-year-old man with a crowbar, but in the end both refused to press charges.

On August 24 at about 1:45 pm, the 76- year-old motorist hit the side of the 57- year-old’s car at the corner of Cavendish Blvd. and Mackle Rd. Both drivers were headed north when they collided. The younger man exited his vehicle and punched the other motorist’s driver-side window two times, explained Station 9’s Constable Vincent DeAngelis. The older man got out of his car holding a crowbar and smacked his assailant on the left hand and head. At this point, said DeAngelis, the crowbar-wielding senior citizen became the aggressor when he should have stayed in his car, called 911 and waited for police.

In this case, before it got worse, people stepped in to break up the fight. The younger man was transported to hospital with injuries sustained by the crowbar, which were not serious.

“This is not the kind of behaviour that we expect from people,” said DeAngelis. “If there is an accident, we understand that people can become angry, but it is only material. Getting violent only makes things worse.”

 

GPS stolen from vehicle

DeAngelis wants to remind residents of both Hampstead and Côte St. Luc not to leave electronics, luggage or sunglasses, visible inside parked cars.

A vehicle was broken into on August 27 and a GPS unit was stolen. The Ford Escape was parked on McAlear Ave. when between 9 pm and 7 am someone forced open the driver-side door to steal the device.

DeAngelis said these types of burglaries are not uncommon in the area. Thieves go after everything from cellphone chargers and loose change to bags and laptops. Even something as subtle as suction cup marks on the windshield from GPS mounts may tempt thieves to break in to investigate.

 

Home security tips from Station 9

Home security tips from Station 9

Isaac Olson, Free Press

July 10, 2012

 

Station 9’s Constable Vincent DeAngelis said there have been quite a few break-ins lately in Hampstead and with people taking summer vacations, the officer is reminding all residents, be they in Côte St. Luc, Hampstead or Montreal, to be extra vigilant when it comes to home security. Along with outfitting homes with noisy security systems, DeAngelis recommended these tips:

• Keep outdoor lights on at night

• Keep ladders locked up so thieves can’t use them to reach second-floor windows

• Always lock doors and windows when leaving

• If the home’s exterior door frames are weak, reinforce the locks with a metal plate

 

When going on vacation:

• Use timers on lights and radios to give your home a lived-in look

• Ask neighbours to pick up mail and circulars

• Suspend newspaper delivery

• Make sure someone comes to visit the home while you are away

 

“These types of techniques act as a deterrent and do help prevent burglaries,” said DeAngelis. Neighbours should also be vigilant and call 911 if they see suspicious activity. “As a neighbour, if you see someone in the backyard, for example, you must call 911 and give a good description of the suspect. A lot of people see things but they are too shy to call 911, but if you’re suspicious of somebody, let the police know.”

Police Station 9 update: Nanny, baby held hostage

Station 9 Police Watch

NDG Press, May 8

Nanny, baby held hostage during home invasion

A 31-year-old nanny and a 10-month-old baby were held hostage during a home invasion on Merton Rd.  Police say four suspects gained entry into the home at 11:45 am on April 23. There were no signs of forced entry.

“We believe the suspects may have known the keypad code that allowed them to simply open the front door,” said Constable Vincent De Angelis. “Once they were inside, the nanny, who was on the second floor of the home, heard some noise and started to go downstairs.” But when she left the bedroom, she ended up coming face to face with one of the suspects. “He brought her to the basement and tied her with duct tape. He used tie-wraps on her thumbs and pinky fingers so she couldn’t move her hands,” said De Angelis. “Then, they brought the baby from its crib and placed it in the nanny’s lap.”

The suspects then made their way back up to the master bedroom. “They used a crowbar to pry one safe out of the wall, and stole a second safe that was in a closet,” said De Angelis. “The safes contained both money and jewellery.”

The suspects left by the garage door. The nanny was eventually able to extricate herself, and she called 911. She and the baby were not hurt during the robbery.

The suspects are all described as white males, 30 and 5’7” who wore hoodies.

Toyotas stolen cars of choice in mall parking lot

Toyotas stolen cars of choice in mall parking lot
Station 9 Police Watch
NDG Free Press, Feburay 14, 2012

Police say it appears an order might have gone out to steal Toyotas, after two were stolen from the Cavendish Mall parking lot and one was taken in Hampstead. Both incidents in Côte St. Luc happened on February 1 in the mall’s parking lot at 5800 Cavendish Blvd.

A brown 2009 Toyota Venza belonging to a 43-year-old Laval woman was stolen some time between 8:25 am and 3:40 pm. Also taken, between noon and 12:35 pm, was a blue 2009 Toyota RAV 4, owned by a 59- year-old woman from DDO.

In both cases, the car doors were locked and there were no signs of forced entry, such as broken glass on the ground.

“We’re not sure if this is going to be a continuing pattern, but if you own a Toyota or, for that matter, any other car there are measures you can take to lessen the chances of having your vehicle stolen,” said Constable Vincent De Angelis. “Make sure your car doors are locked and your windows are rolled right up. Park in areas where there is a greater volume of people, rather than in an isolated area. And it’s always a good idea to have devices like a car alarm or an ignition kill switch.

Station 9 Police Watch

The Free Press, December 13, 2011

Two women arrested for CSL senior residence thefts

Two women arrested for CSL senior residence thefts

By Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban, September 21, 2011

Station 9 police recently arrested two women suspected of break-ins and thefts at Côte St. Luc seniors residences, Constable Vincent DeAngelis told The Suburban last week.

“We had a description of them,” he explained. “We were able to spot them. Both women were arrested.”

The woman charged is Cynthia Erhatiemwomon. The other woman could not be named because no formal charges were laid against her yet.

“She will be charged eventually,” DeAngelis said.

The socio-community officer said there were at least five thefts committed.

DeAngelis said police made the announcement of the arrests to reassure seniors living in the residences.

“There was fear, so knowing that they were both arrested and one has been formally accused, it will place them [at ease].”

The two arresting officers were constables André Belotte and Richard Cadet.

‘Cleaning lady’ tried to clean out CSL homes

‘Cleaning lady’ tried to clean out CSL homes

 

By Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban, September 7, 2011

 

Station 9 police have arrested a woman who placed ads in newspapers advertising her services as a cleaning lady, and then robbing at least two Côte St. Luc apartments where she was hired.

 

Constable Vincent DeAngelis, recently returned socio-community officer at the station which serves Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West, told The Suburban last week that a Greek woman had solicited her services for cleaning homes, and even said she had references.

 

“She did that, and she had customers, and after the second visit to clean the apartment, she was stealing the items,” DeAngelis explained. “We wanted to advise the seniors, especially, that they have to be careful when they hire somebody to work at their house.”

 

The socio-community officer said much of the work leading to the arrest was done by Constable Bruno Tulliani. “He was the one who did the investigation in the sense that, with the phone number she put in the newspaper, he was able to retrace the person responsible.

“This was confirmed by the victims, who saw a picture of her. The constable did great work.”

 

DeAngelis said the suspect was charged with breaking and entering — even though she was given a key to the apartments and let herself in — and possession of stolen goods.