An alleged accomplice that helped fugitive Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil escape jail has been arrested in Spain, according to B.C.’s anti-gang police unit.
John Potvin, 49, of Ottawa was one of three men charged earlier this month after allegedly helping Alkhalil escape from North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam on July 21, 2022.
Alkhalil, originally from Montreal, has an extensive criminal record and was convicted in a 2012 Toronto murder, as well as a murder in Vancouver that same year, and remains a member of Canada’s most-wanted list after the escape.
Potvin, who was charged with conspiracy to commit prison breach and prison breach in relation to Alkhalil’s escape, was at large and the subject of a Canada-wide warrant and an Interpol Red Notice.
On Saturday, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), made up of members of every police department in the province, including the RCMP, said Potvin was arrested on Sept. 19 in Spain, and that the anti-gang unit is working to have him returned to Canada.
“The successful apprehension of this individual in Spain is a testament to the strength of international law enforcement partnerships,” the CFSEU’s Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said in a statement.
3 men charged for allegedly helping B.C. fugitive escape jail
In a news conference earlier this month, Sangha had said that video footage released from the prison break helped officers identify the men who allegedly aided Alkhalil’s escape.
“As this investigation is in court, I won’t be able to go into details [about] exactly who was on that video,” she said.
In July 2022, two men posing as contractors driving a white, Econoline van helped Alkhalil break out of the pretrial centre while he was awaiting a murder trial.
Later that same year, the Bolo Program — which stands for “be on the lookout” — moved Alkhalil to the top of its list of 25 most-wanted fugitives in Canada.
