An Oliver man is expected to appear in court Friday afternoon following a robbery at a Kamloops gas station, which unfolded in company of his three-year-old child according to police..The incident happened Thursday evening, just after 7 p.m. when a front-line officer with the Kamloops RCMP was conducting a traffic stop in a gas station parking lot in the 3200-block of Westsyde Road. During the stop he was informed of a robbery that had just occurred at the same station..The suspect reportedly entered the gas station holding the hand if his young child. After doing a lap throughout the store, he walked up to the counter and demanded money while lifting his shirt to reveal what appeared to be a gun..Having coincidentally been within eye-shot, the nearby officer had observed the man leaving the gas station with his child, and, once learning of the robbery, promptly located them both nearby..“While it is deeply disturbing that someone would commit a robbery with a child, it is even more concerning he's alleged to have threatened the officer and used his child as a shield,” said BC RCMP Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, who highlighted the suspect had put his three-year-old between himself and the officer..Eventually the man released the child and was taken into custody after a brief struggle..The firearm turned out to be a replica..The 32-year-old man is expected to appear in court later today, and investigation details will be filed to the BC Prosecution Service..Charges may include robbery, uttering threats, breach of a firearms prohibition, and resisting arrest.
An Oliver man is expected to appear in court Friday afternoon following a robbery at a Kamloops gas station, which unfolded in company of his three-year-old child according to police..The incident happened Thursday evening, just after 7 p.m. when a front-line officer with the Kamloops RCMP was conducting a traffic stop in a gas station parking lot in the 3200-block of Westsyde Road. During the stop he was informed of a robbery that had just occurred at the same station..The suspect reportedly entered the gas station holding the hand if his young child. After doing a lap throughout the store, he walked up to the counter and demanded money while lifting his shirt to reveal what appeared to be a gun..Having coincidentally been within eye-shot, the nearby officer had observed the man leaving the gas station with his child, and, once learning of the robbery, promptly located them both nearby..“While it is deeply disturbing that someone would commit a robbery with a child, it is even more concerning he's alleged to have threatened the officer and used his child as a shield,” said BC RCMP Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, who highlighted the suspect had put his three-year-old between himself and the officer..Eventually the man released the child and was taken into custody after a brief struggle..The firearm turned out to be a replica..The 32-year-old man is expected to appear in court later today, and investigation details will be filed to the BC Prosecution Service..Charges may include robbery, uttering threats, breach of a firearms prohibition, and resisting arrest.
