Garry Amyot went to Scotiabank in Abbotsford on Wednesday (June 2) to check on the status of a new bank card, but instead he helped thwart an armed robbery.
Amyot, 68, was one of four customers inside the bank on Gladwin Road and South Fraser Way who tackled the gun-wielding culprit before the suspect could leave the premises.
Amyot said he was in a line to inquire about his new card at about 11:30 a.m. when another customer walked past the line, and Amyot noticed the person was acting unusual.
害羞草研究所淎ll of a sudden, the guy walks in past us, pulls out a 12-gauge shotgun and yells out, 害羞草研究所楨verybody! This is a bank robbery, nobody move!害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Amyot said.
害羞草研究所淪o I害羞草研究所檓 looking from a little distance and I see the shotgun, and I own and know firearms so I害羞草研究所檓 thinking this is pretty serious, but I害羞草研究所檓 also thinking, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 not going to die today.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�
The suspect threw a bag to Amyot, who then passed it to a teller. As the tellers began filling the bag with money, Amyot shared a glance with another customer behind the suspect and the wheels began turning in his head.
害羞草研究所淲hen I looked at that guy I just knew he was going to do something no matter what,害羞草研究所� Amyot said, noting he could tell the fellow customer looked irritated. 害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to let him do this by himself. I winked at him and that was the green light 害羞草研究所� we were comrades in this situation.害羞草研究所�
Suddenly, the other man in line grabbed the suspect害羞草研究所檚 gun and pointed it straight up to avoid anyone getting hurt. Amyot quickly followed and tackled the suspect.
害羞草研究所淚t all happened so freaking fast,害羞草研究所� Amyot said. 害羞草研究所淭he other guy grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and then milliseconds later 害羞草研究所� bang! 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e all on the ground. I害羞草研究所檝e got my arms around his back and my elbow in his face and we have him pinned down. The gun was on the floor and I remember telling someone, 害羞草研究所楰ick that gun out of the way!害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�
Two other customers assisted in restraining the suspect until the police arrived a few minutes later.
害羞草研究所淚t was so surreal; it all happened so fast,害羞草研究所� Amyot said.
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Amyot, who has about 15 years of martial arts training, said the situation was intense but he felt confident.
害羞草研究所淚t was all instinct,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut my adrenaline was pumping so fast after that.害羞草研究所�
Amyot, who works at Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Abbotsford, said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are his days off but after the incident at the bank he decided to engage in some liquid counselling.
害羞草研究所淚 went and had something to eat because I hadn害羞草研究所檛 ate anything all day but the next thing I did was go to the liquor store. I bought a case of beer, came home, had a shot of tequila and a beer or two,害羞草研究所� he said.
When Amyot arrived home after the incident, he discovered that the bank card he had gone to the bank to check on had arrived in the mail.
He said he doesn害羞草研究所檛 consider himself a hero and just wanted everyone in the bank to be safe.
Amyot has lived in Abbotsford on and off for the past two decades and said he thinks it would be nice for the man who stopped the suspect and himself to receive some sort of recognition from the city.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 be OK with getting some sort of commendation or a placard or a medal from the city of Abbotsford,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e just happened to be in the right place at the right time.害羞草研究所�
He also said he害羞草研究所檇 be OK with getting some sort of acknowledgement or tip of the hat from Scotiabank itself.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 good that it all came out the way it came out, but I害羞草研究所檇 be fine if Scotiabank decided to take care of whatever is left on my credit card for me,害羞草研究所� he joked.
The 46-year-old suspect remains in police custody facing numerous charges, including robbery and weapons offences. Police are continuing to investigate.
