Three individuals are facing charges from the RCMP for their alleged involvement in aiding Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil’s escape from a British Columbia jail in 2022. Alkhalil, a 38-year-old with a lengthy criminal history, had been imprisoned at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on murder charges when he fled on July 21, 2022.
The suspects, Edward Ayoub, aged 48, and John Potvin, aged 49, both hailing from Ottawa, along with Ryan van Gool, aged 46, from Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., have been charged with conspiracy to commit prison breach and actual prison breach. RCMP Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha mentioned that video evidence from the prison break aided in identifying the individuals who allegedly assisted in Alkhalil’s escape.
Furthermore, police disclosed additional charges related to murder conspiracies and shootings in British Columbia involving van Gool and two other men, separate from the jailbreak incident. This revelation came after information surfaced during the Alkhalil investigation, resulting in charges against van Gool, Bryce Telford, aged 28, and Scott Telford, aged 61, for conspiracy to commit murder and possession of weapons.
In total, five men faced a combined 17 charges on Monday, encompassing offenses tied to the jailbreak and other criminal activities. Ayoub and van Gool are now in custody, while Potvin remains at large with a Canada-wide warrant issued for his arrest. Residents are urged to contact authorities if they have any information on Potvin’s whereabouts.