Masked man exchanges gunfire with police after crashing car in Cassada Gardens; one of two alleged bandits now in custody

Police searching a Cassada Gardens neighbourhood for two masked men were fired upon on Tuesday night, May 23, but were unharmed.

According to reports, the Police received a complaint that two suspicious persons, dressed in hoodies and masks, had been seen loitering in the bushes behind a popular nightclub, and officers responded to the report shortly after midnight.

Based on information received, they observed a rented vehicle – a silver Toyota Fielder – traveling in a northerly direction and coming from the night spot. The officers came out of their vehicle and ordered the car to stop.

However, instead of complying, the driver reportedly accelerated and made a right turn. In doing so, he hit a parked vehicle and then crashed into a culvert on the side of the road, ending up in the gutter.

Reports say that two masked men exited the vehicle: one from the driver’s seat and the other from the front passenger seat.  It is alleged that the driver turned his weapon on the police, and the officers returned fire.

The man then ran in a western direction and the police lost sight of him.  However, reports say that a search was carried out in the area, and one of the bandits was found hiding in nearby bushes. The other was not found.

The crashed vehicle and the scene men were processed, and, reportedly, two masks and gloves, along with other items, were found in the car and taken to the station.  The vehicle was later taken to Police Headquarters for investigation purposes.

An abandoned building in the Cassada Gardens neighbourhood was also searched, and clothing believed to have been worn by the other assailant was found.