The charges against John Garon Jr., 28, from Welland, were withdrawn on Monday after an alibi given by him was followed up, said Staff Sgt. Brian Richardson, of No. 3 district.

Garon, along with another Welland man, 19, who is still facing charges, was arrested on Aug. 21 in connection with the high-profile daytime break-and-enter of a 65-year-old woman's home on WIlton Avenue three days earlier.

The suspects walked through the unlocked front door and put pillow cases over the heads of the victim's two grandchildren before taking them into another room. The woman was then knocked down and bound with duct tape while her home was ransacked.

Garon's father, who is also named John Garon, said it was "unbelievable" that his son was accused in the incident that sent a quiet neighbourhood into high alert.

"He was locked up in jail for nothing," he said. "It's like they just wanted someone to take the blame."

John Garon, the former accused, said he was sleeping at home when police came and arrested him in the morning. He was taken into a holding cell and, following bail court Friday morning, was taken to the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold and placed in maximum security.

"You can imagine," said Garon when asked about the experience.

"It's pretty scary. It wasn't pleasant at all."

Garon said that during the time of the invasion, he was at Niagara College taking his automotive service advisor course. He said police refused to check his alibi until Monday morning.

"They should've done that before they arrested me," said Garon, who said he is now looking into possible legal action against the police for punitive damages.

Richardson told Niagara this Week the false arrest was the result of a witness giving police information that "proved to be false."

"Once he was arrested he supplied an alibi which was followed up,"

In an apparent case of protecting suspects, a Welland woman, 52, now faces two counts of obstructing police for allegedly threatening witnesses.

Richardson wouldn't confirm whether the witness purposely misled police or gave information she didn't know to be true.

Richardson said police continue to look for the second suspect, but are also facing some difficulties because, as well as false information, there have also been cases of witnesses being threatened.

"We have a few leads but we obviously have to follow them up," said Richardson.

Earlier in the week, residents from the neighbourhood spoke about how the arrests made them feel safer.

Roscoe Reilly, a longtime resident of Wilton Avenue, said he felt better after the arrests following the crime that "was beyond my imagination."

"I live three doors down from where it happened," said Reilly, speaking over a voice carryover service by phone due to a hearing impairment.

"I didn't know if they would catch them or not," he added.

The suspect still in custody remains charged with break-and-enter, robbery, forcible confinement and uttering death threats.

Reilly said in the about 55 years he has been in the neighbourhood, the break-and-enter was by far the worst thing he can remember happening.

He was home at the time of the incident, but didn't know what happened until he read the paper the following day.

Having a hearing impairment makes it even worse when a crime like that strikes close to home, he said, because he feels more vulnerable.

"You never know what's going on behind your house," said Reilly. "I think it's very important to lock your doors, regardless of what you're doing. That's my opinion."

Police continue to search for the accomplice in the invasion and anyone with information is asked by police to call Det. Mike Langlais at 905-688-4111 extension 3343 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- TIPS (8477).

Tips can also be texted to CRIMES (274637) with the code - TIP309 plus the message.