By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON March 14, 2012 An daylight armed robbery on Brant Street drugstore in February
On February 17th the Halton Regional Police Service initiated an investigation into a robbery which had occurred at the “Medexpress Pharmacy” located on Brant Street. During this robbery two suspects threatened the employee with a handgun and left after stealing a quantity of prescription drugs.
On February 23rd another pharmacy robbery took place in Milton at the Derry Pharmacy. In this instance the suspects left without obtaining any drugs.
Criminal Investigations Bureau officers from Districts 1 and 3 District initiated an investigation and determined . that the two robberies were related to one another.
On March 6th 2012 police arrested two males; Bempong and Drennan. During a search of the vehicle they were in police discovered a replica handgun which was believed to have been used during the robberies. With this information police obtained search warrants for the residences of thet two suspects as well as a hotel room they were using.
The locations of the search warrants were as follows:
1) Polonia Avenue, Brampton (Bempong’s residence)
2) 2468 Lower Base Line, Milton (Drennan’s residence)
3) 40 Chisholm Drive, Milton
During the searches investigators recovered some of the prescription drugs that were taken during the robbery.
On March 9th 2012 investigators arrested a third male (Gonsalves) in relation to these robberies.
All three accused were charged and held pending bail hearings.
The men behind bars are:
Fredrick BEMONG (31 years of age) of Brampton charged with Robbery with a firearm x 2; Point firearm; Weapons dangerous x 2, Wearing a disguise; Conspiracy to commit indictable offence, Fail to comply with a recognizance and possession of a controlled substance
Graham DRENNAN (29 years of age) of Milton has been charged with Robbery with a firearm, Weapons dangerous, Breach Probation, Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and possession of a controlled substance
Franklin GONSALVES (33 years of age) of Oakville has been charged with Robbery with a firearm, two charges. Weapons dangerous, two charges, and wearing a disguise, two charges.
Solid police work brought these three to a court room.
Pharmacy robberies have been taking place quite frequently in the Region. Drug addicts go to any length to get whatever they think will feed their addiction. Something to keep in mind as you watch the young people in your community circles. If you think there are signs of what some call “recreational use” of drugs – move quickly to get help for the drug user. There is no upside to drug use.
