Two male youths, ages 16 and 17, have made their first appearances in Youth Court on a total of 17 charges relating to recent robberies in Regina.
On Sunday, March 20, at about 8:44 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of a robbery at a convenience store in the 2100 block of Grant Road. Preliminary investigation indicated a male suspect, described as Caucasian, about 5’ 10” tall and wearing a black hoodie; entered the store and approached the clerk. The male displayed a knife, demanded store merchandise and fled. The employee was not physically harmed. Police, including a canine unit, were not able to locate the suspect, causing investigators to believe the suspect left the scene in a vehicle.
The same evening, at about 10:32 p.m., police were dispatched for a similar report of robbery, this time at a convenience store in the 100 block of Broad Street North. In this case, a male suspect, described as Caucasian, wearing a black hoodie, entered the store obtained some merchandise and then demanded money from the store employee. The suspect displayed a knife and then fled with products and cash. Once again, police were unable to locate the suspect.
That same evening, March 20th, at about 10:46 p.m., a male described as Caucasian, 5’ 10” and wearing a dark hoodie, entered a convenience store in the 500 block of Albert Street. The suspect picked up merchandise, approached the till and then displayed a knife, while demanding money from the clerk on duty. The male suspect left the store. A police unit in the area observed a male leaving the convenience store and getting into a car in the alley just minutes before the robbery was reported to police. Believing they had the suspect vehicle in view, police followed the car until it stopped for a train, where the tracks intersect Albert Street. Police arrested both occupants of the vehicle and seized items believed to have been stolen. Further investigation led to charges against one of the suspects in connection with two more robberies that occurred in Regina on March 17, 2011. The first of these was at about 10:00 a.m. at a convenience store in the 2700 block of Montague Street and involved a male, wearing a dark hoodie and carrying a knife. The second robbery on March 17th occurred at about 1:25 p.m. at a convenience store in the 2100 block of Grant Road (same store that was robbed on March 20th). In this robbery, the suspect displayed both a knife and a firearm, which later proved to be a pellet gun styled as a handgun.
The two males charged in these cases cannot be named in accordance with the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The 16 year-old male accused is facing three charges of Robbery [344(b) CC] and three charges of Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000. [355(b) CC] in connection with the incidents on March 20, 2011. The 17 year-old youth is charged with five charges of Robbery [344(b) CC]; three charges of Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000. [355(b) CC]; Assault With a Weapon [267(a) CC]; Carrying a Concealed Weapon [90 CC]; and Using a Firearm in the Commission of an Indictable Offence [85(1)(a) CC]. Both youths made their first court appearances in Youth Court on Monday, March 21, 2011.
