Squamish RCMP officers are on the lookout for a suspect in an armed robbery that allegedly occurred on Friday (March 4) at the Squamish Shell station.
At 7:15 p.m., police received a report of a robbery in progress at the station, RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock said in a statement. A male wearing a black-and-white cloth over his face, a dark grey hoodie, blue jeans, a black jacket and white skateboard shoes entered the station's convenience story and said he had a handgun, Pollock said.
The cashier handed over the cash from the till and the male left the store. A police dog team attended but was unable to locate a suspect.
If you have information about the incident, contact Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 or Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Break-in suspect sought
Police are also seeking a suspect in a pair of home break-and-enters in Garibaldi Highlands on Saturday. A burglar or burglars stole laptops and jewelry in two separate incidents in the Ayr Drive area, Pollock said.
A day earlier, a resident of Rhum and Eigg Drive reported that a suspicious man had come to the door and introducing himself as a new neighbour. When the resident challenged his claim, though, the male instead said he was "a student living in a hotel." Pollock said it was apparent that the man was casing homes in the area.
The man is described as Caucasian, 6 feet tall, slim, wearing a blue and white jacket, blue jeans and white running shoes with yellow laces. Residents are reminded to lock doors when not at home and report suspicious activity.
Man pepper sprayed, arrested
A man who reportedly was seen emerging from the front door of a home on Darrell Bay Road was pepper sprayed after he allegedly became combative and resisted arrest.
On Friday at 5:45 p.m., a woman returned to her home and saw an unknown man leaving her home through the front door. When the woman confronted him, he shouted obscenities at her and walked away, Pollock said.
The woman followed the man in her car and called 911, providing a detailed description of the suspect. The man was walking north along the CN Rail tracks and a police dog team began tracking him along the tracks, Pollock said.
Another officer stationed himself on the Stawamus Reserve and saw the man walking along the tracks. The officer tried to arrest the man, but the suspect resisted. He had several knives with him, so to subdue him, the police officer used pepper spray and then handcuffed him. The man remained "combative, resistant and uncooperative" as he was transported to the RCMP detachment, Pollock said.
A bail hearing was conducted by teleconference on Saturday (March 5), but the man was unable to post bail. He was held in custody before being taken to court on Monday (March 7).
Man faces drunk driving charge
On March 1 at 2:30 p.m., a witness contacted police to report that a drunk male was asking passers-by for booster cables in the Chieftain Mall parking lot. An officer arrived to find the man sitting in his car with the engine running.
The man showed signs of impairment and was arrested for being in care and control of a vehicle while intoxicated. He did not speak English, so an officer from the Surrey detachment translated by teleconference. The man provided breath samples of .37 and .35 milligrams - more than four times the legal limit. The man, who had previous convictions for impaired driving, had his vehicle impounded, was served with an administrative driving prohibition and released to a family member on a promise to appear in court.
Man arrested
Also on March 1, Squamish RCMP received reports that a male had been harassing his ex-girlfriend with text messages that expressed suicidal intent. Officers visited the man's home, but he would not acknowledge them, Pollock said.
The text messages indicated that the man had "straight-edged weapons," and also made threats against police, Pollock said. A police dog team was brought in and police entered the home by force. The man was arrested under the Mental Health Act and was taken to Squamish General Hospital, where he was assessed by a doctor. He was then taken to Lions Gate Hospital for further assessment.
Assessment likely
On Monday (March 7), a male gave a note to a librarian at the Squamish Library stating his intent to do himself harm. Police attended and canvassed the area, finally locating the man. He spoke to police and agreed to visit Squamish General Hospital for a mental health assessment, Pollock said.
'Grey van scam' suspected
On Tuesday (March 8), a Squamish resident reported that he believed he had been targeted for what's known as a "grey van scam," which has been in the news in the Lower Mainland recently. After the resident had visited an ATM at a bank in downtown Squamish, a man pulled up beside him in a grey van, Pollock said.
The man showed the resident an invoice and said a shipper had sent him extra stereo equipment that he did not order. Typically, the stereo equipment is not worth the price being asked. Squamish RCMP are interested in locating the van and speaking with the driver, Pollock said.
Man causes disturbance
On March 1 at 9 a.m., a man approached the front counter at the Squamish RCMP detachment and began yelling and acting "aggressively and irrationally," Pollock said. The man is known to police as someone who uses street drugs and has mental health issues. After he was arrested, his irrational behaviour continued to escalate. He was committed by a doctor and taken to Lions Gate Hospital for further assessment, Pollock said.
