A man charged with a bank robbery in Abbotsford on Sunday afternoon has more than 10 prior convictions for robbery, according to police.
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said David Ryan Lovely, 36, has a “pretty significant record.”
According to the provincial court database, his previous convictions also include theft, possession of stolen property, assault causing bodily harm, break-and-enter, drug possession, and breaches of his probation and bail conditions.
Lovely has been charged with one count of robbery in Abbotsford and is next scheduled to appear in court on June 2.
Just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, police received a report of an armed robbery at the TD Canada Trust at South Fraser Way and Trethewey Street.
MacDonald said a man had entered the bank and issued both verbal and written commands for cash.
Once he left the bank, he headed east along South Fraser Way. Police believe he had left some personal items at a nearby money-lending business before entering the bank, and he had gone to retrieve them.
When police arrived, witnesses informed them of the man’s whereabouts.
MacDonald said the suspect refused police commands to surrender and tried to escape into a bush area.
The man reached into his pockets and back of his pants, despite orders to keep his hands in plain view, MacDonald said.
The two officers who were first on the scene had only their pistols as weapons, and MacDonald said they exercised “patience and professionalism” in not firing.
“I think our officers did an exceptional job,” he said.
A third officer who arrived on the scene used a beanbag gun to fire five less-lethal beanbag rounds that took the suspect down.
The Abbotsford Police Department is still looking to speak to witnesses about this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the APD at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd).
