Arrests in Niagara robbery

Imagine who would be cowardly enough to attack an 86-year old woman. Well, it happened outside Casino Niagara this past weekend, and now two people are in custody. Police arrested the pair hours later at a local bank.

This is the couple arrested by Niagara police on Sunday. They are 22-year old Josiah Davis and his 28-year old girlfriend Laura True. They both live in Niagara Falls, New York but spend a lot of time on this side of the border.

Just after 11 on Saturday night, police say an 86-year old woman had just gotten into her car in the Casino Niagara parking lot.

Niagara police Constable Derek Watson: “When she was approached by the accused. He knocked on the window. She thinks he’s looking for help. She unrolls the window. Grabs her purse and takes off to a car that was waiting in the back.”

Fortunately the victim wasn’t seriously injured. But she was shaken up. Her money and identification were stolen.

That car the thief had jumped into had New York plates. It then sped back across the border.

The next day, a couple showed up at the TD Bank on Dorchester at Lundy’s Lane.

Bank employees became suspicious when the pair pulled out the 86-year old robbery victim’s identification. Told them they were her grandchildren and tried to withdraw a large amount of money.

Detective Watson: “They called police. We got on scene. We arrested the two.”

Laura True was charged with robbery and fraud related offenses. Josiah Davis is facing the same slew of charges. Last year, Davis was convicted of a robbery offence. He’s still on probation. The couple have a three-month old child. The child was with them when they were arrested at the bank.

People may be wondering why Josiah Davis was allowed to cross into Canada in the first place if he had a previous conviction for robbery. It’s because he is a member of First Nations and can cross the border freely.

This elderly woman was robbed during a busy Saturday night at the casino. There were other people who probably saw something. And if they did, Niagara police would like to hear from them.