In the early morning hours of Monday, April 14, 2014, just after 1:00 a.m., a lone male entered the Petro-Canada service station in the 3900 block of Shelbourne Street with his face covered with fabric and wearing sunglasses.
The alert lone employee on site utilised a device to alert police, believing that the suspect was about to attempt to rob the store. The male suspect made demands of the employee but the employee refused to cooperate with the suspect, instead informing him that the police had been summoned to the gas station.
The suspect pulled out a utility style knife and again demanded cash from the employee, this time swinging his arm and hand with the knife in the direction of the employee. The employee again refused to comply with the demands and advised the suspect a second time that the police were on their way. The employee was not injured during this interaction.
A third party witness had just exited the store when they observed the suspect in front of the store placing something over his face. The witness observed the interaction between the employee and the suspect and, recognizing that it was a robbery in progress, immediately contacted 9-1-1 to report the observations.
The male suspect fled the area on foot, heading westbound on Mckenzie Avenue. The witness followed the male at a distance and provided updated information to police who were able to respond in a short time period and locate the suspect.
Investigation revealed that the suspect had placed mens underwear over his face, along with sunglasses, in an apparent attempt to mask his identity.
The suspect male, identified as 29 year old Christopher EDWARDS, a resident of Victoria, was located and arrested without incident in a parking lot near the corner of Mckenzie Avenue and Cedar Hill Road.
EDWARDS was held in custody to appear in court. His next court appearance is scheduled in late April, to answer to one count of Robbery.
File 2014-6601
Sgt. Steve Eassie #158