Beachside robbery results in jail term

Car theft victim was uncooperative with police

Taking off in an acquaintance’s car, leaving the man stranded on a beach, proved costly for two St. Catharines residents.

Quintin Thomas and Matthew Goodman, 21, appeared in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Friday and were sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to several charges including robbery.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2018, court was told, the two men met up with a third male at Sunset Beach in St. Catharines.

The plan was to “smoke up together.” While at the beach, the third man mentioned he had a handgun in the trunk of his car. The defendants offered to buy the firearm, but he refused.

As they were walking back to the man’s vehicle, he was pushed the ground and forced to empty his pockets. The two men took his wallet as well and his car keys.

The duo then fled the area in the man’s car.

The victim began shouting for help and a concerned resident allowed him to use his phone to call 911.

The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned near Gale Crescent in St. Catharines.

The man’s wallet and the handgun were never recovered.

Court was told the robbery victim was uncooperative with police and reluctant to participate in the court process.

Thomas also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of failing to comply with a court order.

On May 17, 2019, Niagara Regional Police attempted to arrest the defendant after he was spotted walking on King Street in St. Catharines. He was on bail at the time, with a condition that he remain inside his residence.

When he spotted police, Thomas ran into his home and refused to answer the door.

While police were waiting for a warrant to enter the home, court was told, the NRP received a 911 call regarding a shooting in another area of St. Catharines. The call originated in Nova Scotia and police quickly confirmed there was no shooting.

Thomas subsequently came outside and was arrested without incident.

His lawyer told court his client has no information regarding the mysterious 911 call.

In addition to jail, Thomas and Goodman were placed on probation for three years.