Petrolia woman charged in Sarnia bank robbery

February 10, 2017

A 61 year-old Petrolia woman is facing four charges in connection with a Sarnia bank robbery.

On Feb. 1, a woman dressed in a black hoodie walked into the CIBC on Front Street in Sarnia around 4 pm and demanded money from the cashiers saying she would shoot them if she didn’t get it. She left on foot and was arrested at a London Line motel later that day.

37-year-old Lindsay Rene Smith faces seven charges including robbery with threats of violence, public mischief and two counts of breach of probation.

On Saturday, Sarnia police went to an apartment building on Greenfield Street and searched an apartment. During the search a quantity of cash was located that was determined to be from the bank robbery along with a small amount of methamphetamine.

A 61 year-old woman,  Deborah Benusik, , was arrested and charged with robbery, accessory to robbery after the fact, possession of a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of robbery.

She was held in custody for a bail hearing.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Crocheting senior of the year

July 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When she was in her 30s, a neighbour offered to teach Ruth Anne Mater to crochet. It looked fun, so she picked up a hook. It seems to many as though her hands have not been idle since. Monday, Mater was honoured as Dawn-Euphemia’s Senior of the Year. Mayor Al Broad says Mater “has been a quiet

Read More

Image
Front Page

Wyoming’s Jackson taken by Yankees in MLB Draft

July 14, 2025

The Independent Core Jackson may be headed to the Big Apple. The Wyoming native was selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon. Jackson has played college baseball at the University of Utah for the past two years. He slashed .364/.445/.641 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, and 20 stolen bases

Read More

Image
Front Page

Information and Privacy Commissioner orders Petrolia to release 2021 letter from mayor banning town councillor

July 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Nearly four years, after Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley banned a councillor from attending in camera meetings, the town has been forced to release the letter spelling out his reasons. In June 2022, while investigating a Code of Conduct complain against the mayor for the release of confidential information to The Independent, the investigator found Loosley had banned

Read More

Image
Front Page

Flyers sign veterans, Flags go with youth

July 13, 2025

Barry Wright/The Independent The Petrolia Flyers have reached into east Lambton for a pair of players for the coming season. Alvinston’s Joey Hayter and Ty Moffatt of Watford are both joining the PJHL team. Hayter, 19, has played the past two seasons with the Blenheim Blades including scoring 15 goals and adding 31 assists in 51 regular season and playoff

Read More