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 there was a robbery at D.C. Taylor Jewellers at about 3 p.m. on Dec. 4.
“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.
Later in the evening, multiple police vehicles were spotted rushing to and at the Collingwood Regional Airport in Clearview Township.
Hachey confirmed OPP aviation services (police helicopter), tactical rescue unit, Huronia West OPP and canine unit 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, to his knowledge, no one was physically injured during the robbery.
“It was quite chaotic, but thankfully, in the end, it was a good outcome,” he said.
Police say the getaway vehicle, a dark-coloured SUV, had been reported stolen to Toronto city police. It was located abandoned in a field near County Road 124 and 30/31 Sideroad, south of Nottawa.
Hachey said more information will be released in the coming days.
The investigation is ongoing.
“Our investigation is continuing,” he said.
