On Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, it was reported that a male entered a big box store located near 185 Street and Stony Plain Road, before it opened for business. The male allegedly brandished a firearm and forced two employees into the money room, where a third employee was working at the time. The suspect produced a robbery note demanding employees to empty the safe, before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Investigators believe that on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, the same male entered a grocery store located on Guardian Road in west Edmonton, produced a robbery note and forced a female to phone the manager who had left for the day. The manager returned and the suspect forced both employees into the money room, at which time he demanded the manager empty the safe at gunpoint. The suspect again made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, it was reported that the same male and a male accomplice entered a big box store on Watt Common Way, and approached the store manager. In this incident, it was reported that the suspects handed the manager a robbery note at gunpoint. When the manager refused to empty the safe, one of the suspects pepper sprayed the complainant, before both suspects fled the scene.
Jeremiah Stephen Votary, 18, is charged with robbery (x 6), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence (x 3), using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence, (x 3), unlawful confinement (x 2), possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2), simple possession and possession of property obtained by the proceeds of crime.
A two-month investigation undertaken by EPS Robbery Section detectives has culminated in the arrest of an 18-year-old male in connection with three armed robberies at big box and grocery stores.