Five facing charges in connection with violent bank robberies, one in Belleville

Four people have been arrested and one more is wanted in connection with several frightening armed bank robberies across Ontario over a 16-month period, one of them in Belleville.

Project Opal is a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving the Ontario Provincial Police and several other police departments including Belleville Police Service.

At a news conference in Orillia Tuesday, OPP said their investigation involved eight robberies between December 8 2022 and March 16, 2024.

The Alterna Credit Union on Sidney St. in Belleville was robbed on March 16.

Surveillance camera footage from armed robbery inside Alterna Credit Union on March 16, 2024. (Photo: Belleville Police)

Collectively, more than $2 million was stolen.

Three people were arrested on June 21 when police in Field foiled a ninth robbery attempt.

Another suspect was arrested in Vaughan on September 25.

Still wanted is 32-year-old Akeem Williams of Ajax.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to not approach him and contact police immediately.

The five suspects face a total of 53 offences including robbery with violence, forcible confinement and various firearms charges.

Detective Inspector Bryan McDermott of the OPP Criminal Investigations Branch said the similarities amongst the robberies were clear.

“Each involved two to three individuals entering the bank before close. The occupants were controlled through the use of firearms to threaten and intimidate. Disguises were used to conceal the suspects’ faces and gloves were worn to prevent finger prints. In most cases the occupants were tied up.”

Police say about 20 individuals were caught in the banks during the robberies and support has been provided for them.

OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns says while none of the victims was physically harmed, many of them have endured significant emotional distress and trauma in the months since.

Deputy Commissioner Kearns commended the coordinated work of the involved police services, helping them to identify and apprehend the suspects before they could target another bank.

Durham Regional Police, York Region Police, Barrie Police and Niagara Regional Police are also involved in the investigation.

Kearns said once it was determined the robberies were not isolated events, the OPP Criminal Investigations Branch came in to help enhance coordination between the involved police services.

“Investigators used the patterns to identify similar occurrences with other police jurisdictions leading to the creation of Project Opal. Through the close collaboration amongst the police services, we were able to exchange information and mobilize resources effectively, leading to the subsequent arrests.”

OPP say the investigation is not over and police urge anyone with information to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.