Additional charges have been laid as part of Project Opal, an investigation into a series of bank robberies dating back to 2022.
Between Dec. 8, 2022, and March 16, 2024, eight armed bank robberies occurred in areas policed by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Barrie Police Service, the Belleville Police Service, the Durham Regional Police Service, the Niagara Regional Police Service and York Regional Police.
Each police service initially investigated the incidents in their areas, but OPP took on a co-ordinating role in August 2023 after investigators found consistent patterns that suggested a single group of suspects was responsible.
In each robbery, two or three people entered a bank shortly before closing time. They wore different disguises in each incident and brandished at least one handgun. Bank employees were bound in the last six robberies.
Police determined the suspects are responsible for more than $2 million in reported losses at eight banks. The stolen money has not yet been recovered.
On June 21, 2024, three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, a community in Nipissing District. Another suspect was arrested Sept. 25, 2024, in Vaughan.
On Friday, police charged Roderick Newman, 33, of Cobourg, with two counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited weapon in relation to robberies in Barrie and Newmarket. He is being held in custody and has a July 8 court date in Oshawa.
The fifth suspect, Akeem Williams, 33, of Ajax, remains wanted.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police service or call OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
