Ray Watson on the day he shot bank robbery suspect dead
As the suspect fled and police gave chase, Ray Watson yelled: “Police … stop”, before firing a warning shot over the fleeing man’s head. He didn’t stop. What happened next still weighs heavily 34 years later.
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Late on a hot afternoon on Christmas Eve, 1986.
The end of the year had been a hectic period and I was driving armed robbery squad colleague “Mr Nasty” home, both of us looking forward to a break over the Festive Season with family and friends.
Then we were asked via an armed robbery squad radio call if we could attend a Flemington bank robbery.
We could hardly reply in the negative because we were less than a kilometre from the scene when the call came.
We drove to the ANZ branch on Racecourse Road, which had been robbed by a male armed with a handgun who decamped on a red motorcycle.
A normal investigation of the crime was carried out.
Bank film was obtained and the crime scene unit attended, but there was no indication of who the suspect was.
A few days later, we were contacted by Detective Senior Constable Coverdale, who told us that he had been told by an informer that Mark Militano was the man who robbed the bank.
We attempted to find Militano and discovered he was sometimes living in the high-rise flats in North Melbourne.
He had been seen riding a motorcycle and we also ascertained that he had a drug habit and prior convictions.
He was associated with a Deryn Derich, who was believed to live in a flat in Kensington.
During the weeks that followed, both Militano and Derich robbed TAB’s, banks and Tattslotto agencies around West Melbourne and Sunshine.
Militano was seen driving an exotic sports coupe and skiing on the Maribyrnong River.
We also knew that if he were to be arrested, he would say nothing, let alone make any admissions to allegations.
The flat occupied by Derich was in Rankins Road, Kensington, and it became known that Militano spent most of his time at this unit.
We hired a flat in the same complex and began our surveillance routine.
We attempted to obtain a warrant for a listening device to be secreted in Derich’s flat but there was a hiccup with the legislation, meaning no warrant was available to us or anyone else.
Detectives occupied these premises for a couple of weeks with our kettle, instant coffee and rudimentary blankets.
We were also joined by other colleagues including “The Gull”.
As we were on the ground floor of the building and the weather was warm, we would take it in turns to venture outside and position ourselves next to the flat occupied by the suspects.
If their window was open, we could eavesdrop some of their conversation.
One overheard conversation indicated that Militano and Derich were intending to rob a bank the next day.
It was unclear which bank was the target, or its location.
We quickly obtained the services of the rest of the armed robbery squad, the special operations group and a surveillance team.
The next day, Militano and Derich were observed in a plain car in the Footscray area.
They appeared to be focused on a number of bank branches in that area.
We stayed about 1km away.
It was reported to us that the suspects had spotted the surveillance crews and were doing some anti-surveillance driving.
The armed robbery squad assembled near the Footscray football ground and it was decided that Detective Sgt Kent and his crew would arrest Derich at the flat in Kensington.
Militano could not be found but the plan was to detain him when that happened, using the special operations group.
Militano was later sighted at a Flemington car yard.
We were parked in Flemington with Detective Sergeant Porter and his crew.
The plan was fairly simple – for Militano to be arrested as soon as possible.
Shortly after, a surveillance detective reported Militano was driving towards where we were parked in two armed robbery squad sedans.
A split-second decision was made to intercept and arrest Militano there and then.
Like bulls charging towards each other, all cars came to an abrupt halt.
It appeared as though Militano had hold of a handgun and a number of shots were fired at his car.
The shotgun pellets appeared to have ricocheted from his car and he rolled out of the passenger side still clutching a revolver.
We gave chase.
I was the lead detective and yelled: “Police … stop”, before firing a warning shot over his head from close by.
Nothing changed.
One of the other detectives fired his shotgun and I let off a shot from my revolver which I had aimed at Militano, who had the weapon pointed over his shoulder in my direction.
Militano fell to the ground immediately.
Detective Senior Constable Cook kicked the handgun out of Militano’s grasp.
Our police training immediately took hold.
Sgt Porter tried to comfort the suspect and I found a nearby witness and asked him to remain at the scene. The ambulance and police command attended.
I was informed that Militano had died at the scene.
My revolver was handed to a police inspector, as were all other armed robbery squad firearms.
That night, Derich was processed and subsequently a number of raids were conducted by the major crime and armed robbery squads.
The shooting incident was investigated by the homicide squad.
To see the front page of the newspapers reporting the death of Militano did nothing to stop my feeling overwhelming sorrow for the family of the deceased.
I chose to give evidence at the Melbourne Coroner’s Court and therefore be cross-examined in relation to my evidence.
I believed it was the right thing to do.
The passing of a person no matter who that person was, weighs heavily and although I didn’t fall into a heap, I found it difficult to stop thinking about the events that overtake you and the consideration that there may have been another solution.
I still don’t know.
– with Mark Buttler
MORE RAY WATSON TALES:
THE MOST OBNOXIOUS CROOK I EVER MET
A QUIET BEER WITH A THUG BEFORE HOSTILITIES RESUME
KIND, ELDERLY, HEAVILY ARMED: THE HUNT FOR BEANIE BANDIT
THUGS AND LOWLIFES ENCOUNTERED OVER A LONG CAREER
Ray Watson was a member of the armed robbery squad at a time of 500 bank hold-ups a year nationwide.
He offers Herald Sun readers a unique insight into the squad’s pursuit of the bandits and killers behind the heists.
Listen to him on Andrew Rule’s Life and Crimes podcast.