Accused bank robber to stay in custody for now
A 51-year-old Lethbridge man accused of robbing the same bank twice, will have to wait until later in the month to find out if he will be released from custody.
Jamie Gerard Bagu had hoped to be released Thursday following a lengthy bail hearing in Lethbridge court of justice, but Justice Gregory Maxwell said he needs more time to consider submissions by the Crown and defence, and ordered the matter return to court on June 12. Maxwell pointed out, however, he won’t give his decision on that day, but will set it for another time.
Lethbridge lawyer Greg White had suggested
Bagu could be released under several specific conditions, and that Bagu’s wife could act as surety. As surety, the accused’s wife would promise to supervise Bagu while he is out on bail, and promise an amount of money to the court if he doesn’t follow one or more of the bail conditions or doesn’t show up to court when required.
Evidence presented during Thursday’s bail hearing cannot be published under a court-ordered publication ban.
Bagu is charged with two counts each of robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, use of a firearm while committing an offence, and disguised with intent, and one count each of assault with a weapon and unsafe storage of a firearm.
The charges stem from incidents on March 17 and April 11, 2023 at CIBC in the 500 block of 13 Street North.
Police reported in April that in both cases a man entered the bank, pointed a firearm at employees and demanded money, then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during either robbery.
A vehicle with distinctive features was identified after it was recorded by a video surveillance camera leaving the area of the second robbery at a high rate of speed. Through follow-up investigation police later located the vehicle and identified a suspect.
On April 25 a man was arrested without incident and police searched two vehicles and a home on Waterton Road South. During the search police seized two firearms, including a handgun consistent with the weapon used in the robberies, Canadian currency with serial numbers that matched money stolen during the first robbery and clothing consistent with surveillance images of the robber.