Vaughan - In an excellent example of a successful joint-forces investigation, officers in the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit, working in partnership with those in the Toronto Police Services Hold-up Unit and Intelligence Bureau, the Peel Regional Police Central Robbery Unit and the Halton Regional Police Robbery Unit, have laid 200 additional charges against three accused in connection with dozens of robberies across the GTA in recent months.

Charges include one count of Attempted Murder in connection with a carjacking which occurred on February 2, 2008, in the City of Vaughan. At approximately 10:20 p.m., two victims were stopped in their vehicle at a red light in the Highway 400 and Highway 7 area when they were rear-ended by a Plymouth Voyager van. A confrontation occurred resulting in both victims being assaulted, one suffering non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the head, before the suspects fled in the victims' 1998 Audi.

On February 19, 2008, three men were charged in connection with the robbery of an Esso gas station in the City of Vaughan. The suspects fled from police on Highway 400, then once stopped, fled on foot from the vehicle in the area of King Road before being apprehended.

The joint-forces investigation revealed these accused were wanted in connected with the February 2, 2008, carjacking, two other robberies in York Region and dozens of gas station, convenience store and carjacking robberies across the GTA.

CHARGED & CHARGES INCLUDE:

Billidean MCBEAN, 24, of Vaughan
Attempted Murder
Robbery with Firearm x 42

Rowan COOPER, 25, of Brampton
Attempted Murder
Robbery with Firearm x 36

Martin WHITE, 25, of Brampton
Robbery with Firearm x 21
Disguise with Intent

A total of 202 charges have been laid against these accused and also include Point Firearm, Assault with a Weapon, Dangerous Driving and Flight from Police. All three accused are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on March 7, 2008.

York Regional Police would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of its GTA partners in successfully concluding this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Hold-up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.