Teens lend cop bikes to bust bad guy
Fleeing serial robber can't out-pedal officer on BMX
Ian Austin, The Province
Published: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Three quick-thinking teens are the toast of Burnaby for their part in putting a suspected serial bank robber behind bars.

The three Grade 10 teens were hanging out after school last week when the suspect pedalled by on a bicycle, followed in hot pursuit by plain-clothes Mounties in their vehicles.

When the robber managed to hop a metre-wide ditch on his bike, the officers could no longer follow him.

One Mountie approached the three teens and asked Tyler Scomazzon for his bike.
"He was a big guy. I knew he was a cop," said Scomazzon, 15. "Kyle [Bogaczewicz] said, 'Give him your bike,' so I did."

The officer hot-pedalled away in pursuit of the suspect, but the chain fell off the bike.

The third teen, James Irwin, quickly caught up to the officer to help out.

"The officer was trying to catch him on foot and I rode up to him on my BMX," said Irwin, 14.

"I gave him my bike and he caught the guy. We saw him handcuffed and they were taking him away."

Yesterday, the teens, proud parents in tow, were welcomed with gifts and awards at the Burnaby RCMP station.

"I couldn't possibly be prouder," said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, as the three were awarded framed copies of the Detachment Commander's Certificate of Appreciation. "You really did a great service for Burnaby."

Quipped Corrigan: "You've put a whole new definition on the term 'Mounted Police.'"

The certificates read, in part, "We are most appreciative of exceptional young citizens like yourself who take it upon themselves to assist the RCMP and ultimately make the City of Burnaby a better place to live."

The three heroes gladly recounted their tale several times to the assembled media and seemed extremely pleased with their loot -- certificates, caps, shirts, sweaters, and hockey tickets -- and the excited smiles of their friends and relatives.

"To get these plaques, to be recognized, it feels good," said Scomazzon.

The three were also sized up as potential RCMP recruits following their heroics on Oct. 24.

"I wanted to be a cop once," said Bogaczewicz, 15. "So did every kid. You want to catch the bad guy."

The RCMP said they had been investigating a string of violent robberies, where the suspect brandished a knife and used a bike as a getaway vehicle.

Roy Anderson, 39, of Burnaby, has been charged with 10 counts of robbery.

Irwin hopes the public recognition will help others see that most teens are good kids.

"Not all teens are bad people," he said. "You have to get to know people before you judge them."