THUNDER BAY – Police over the weekend were kept busy with robberies. Officers also responded to a stabbing in the downtown Northcore.
Male Arrested for Two Morning Robberies
On Sunday, December 10, 2017, at 7:34 a.m. the Thunder Bay Police received a 911 call from an employee at the ESSO Gas Station at 645 Arthur Street West, reporting a robbery had just occurred.
Officers arrived at the business and spoke to the employees who advised a male came up to the counter and pulled a knife out of his jacket and told the employee to empty the till. The accused then left the store, returned to the white SUV and drove out of the parking lot westbound on Arthur Street.
The descriptions of the suspect and vehicle were put out to officers who were searching the area when second robbery call was dispatched at 7:44 a.m. at the Shell Gas Station, 1110 Arthur Street West. The description of the male matched the original robbery suspect. The suspect was seen running south behind the Shell Gas Station.
At 7:46 a.m. an officer spotted the male matching the description standing beside a white vehicle in the Valhalla Inn parking lot. Officers approached the male to arrest him and he began resisting attempts to be handcuffed. Once handcuffed, a search of the suspect revealed a knife in his jacket pockets. Officers also recovered the cash and other merchandise items taken in the robberies.
Thomas Raymond Bork, 25 years old of Thunder Bay was charged with Robbery x2 and Resist Arrest. He appeared in court and was remanded into custody.
Robbery Arrest
On December 10, 2017, at approximately 8:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a Cameron Street apartment where three males had just forced their way in at knifepoint.
The 27 and 34-year-old male victims were directed to the bathroom and threatened. Once the males left they discovered a number of items taken including a television, a cellphone, a wireless phone and a wallet.
The males left the apartment in a vehicle last seen heading towards May Street. Officers observed a vehicle matching the descriptors on South Brodie Street with two occupants in the vehicle. Officers conducted a query of the license plate confirming the validation tag to be expired. At approximately 9:15 p.m. officers conducted a traffic stop at on East Arthur Street. The driver had an expired driver’s license.
During this encounter, officers observed items that had been reported stolen on the floor by the passenger’s feet. At approximately 10:30 p.m. the two males were arrested for possession of stolen property. A search of the passenger revealed a box cutter-style knife, with the blade fully open in the right front pocket.
A search of the vehicle revealed a knife enclosed in a sheath in the center console easily accessible by either the driver or front seat passenger. The vehicle was seized for future investigation.
Justin Mathew Collins, 30 years old was charged with Possession of Stolen Property, Carry Concealed Weapon, and Possess Weapons Dangerous. He was remanded into custody.
The identity of the other male has yet to be confirmed. He will appear in court tomorrow charged with Possession of Weapons Dangerous to the Public, Uttering Threats, Robbery, Possession of Stolen Property and Forcible Confinement.
The Thunder Bay Police investigation continues.
