RCMP have charged 18-year-old Wesley Hassleburger-Wright of Rimbey, with 14 offences following a string of armed robberies, theft and flight from police which occurred between November 17 and November 19.
On November 17 at approximately 9 p.m. a masked male suspect entered the Husky gas bar located at 5802 on Highway2A. He carried a baseball bat and demanded cash from the attendant. The male suspect proceeded to smash the debit machine with the bat. The man left the store after grabbing a quantity of scratch lottery tickets and cigarettes. He drove away in an older model two-tone brown van.
Members of the RCMP Spruce Grove / Stony Plain /Enoch were dispatched to a complaint of an armed robbery on November18 at approximately 5:50 p.m. at the Fast Gas situated at 4402-48st in Stony Plain. It was reported that a male suspect entered the store with a brown baseball bat and demanded money from the staff while smashing the glass cover to the scratch lotto tickets. The suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of money and scratch lottery tickets before leaving in anolder model brown full size van.
Later that same evening, at approximately 7:10 p.m., RCMP were called to an armed robbery at the Shell Gas station in Onoway, at 4921-49 Street. A male suspect and a female suspect entered the Shell station. The male was carrying a brown baseball bat and demanded money and lotto tickets from the employees. The suspect again obtained an undisclosed amount of money and scratch lottery tickets then fled with the female suspect in an older model brown full size van.
On November 19, at approximately 5:45 p.m., RCMP received a complaint of theft of fuel by an individual driving a two-tone older van. The theft occurred at the Pembina Esso station near Entwistle.
Edson RCMP members, aware of the robberies earlier that same day, noticed a two-tone brown van matching the description of suspect vehicle. Police initiated a traffic stop but the van did not stop. Police pursued the vehicle, however,due to the concern for public safety the pursuit was terminated. The Edson RCMP members advised Maythorpe RCMP detachment of the suspect vehicle approaching their area, north bound on Range Road 130. The suspect vehicle was located in a rural location by Maythorpe RCMP members who stopped the vehicle and apprehended Wesley Hassleburger-Wright and a female youth.
Hassleburger-Wright has been charged with robbery, robbery with a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a peace officer and fail to comply with an undertaking.
The 18-year-old has been remanded into custody and is set to make his first appearance in Stony Plain Provincial Court onWednesday, November 25.
A female youth was also in the vehicle at the time of the arrest and is facing charges for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).