KITCHENER, Ont. - Police are turning their attention to the nation's capital after a string of recent bank robberies they say may be part of an organized crime ring.

Miguel Ortiz, 19, of Ottawa, made a court appearance in Kitchener, Ont., Friday morning following his arrest by Ottawa police Thursday.

Ottawa is now the focus of an investigation expected to lead to more arrests.

Waterloo police Supt. Bryan Larkin says this first arrest is the launching pad for a larger-scale investigation involving the Ottawa-area and potentially other areas.

Ortiz is charged in connection with an alleged heist at a Bank of Montreal in Kitchener, one of five local bank robberies on Oct. 15 and 16.

A sixth bank robbery was allegedly pulled off in London during the same two-day spree.

Waterloo detectives will travel to Ottawa next week to continue working with police there on the investigation.

Police suspect the three men who allegedly committed three local bank robberies may have been involved with other people and crimes.

Ortiz is scheduled to appear in Kitchener court again via video later this month.