Photo: Contributed
UPDATE at 11:45
The suspect in the attack with pepper spray at Westbank Walmart was also wanted in connection with an early morning robbery at a gas station.
Kelowna’s RCMP was sent at 6:09 a.m. on June 3 to a local gas station, where a man threatened staff with a hypodermic needle and then flew off with a pack of cigarettes.
Video surveillance from that location helped investigators determine that the same suspect was involved in the incident later Friday at Walmart.
The suspect was seen getting into a taxi in front of Walmart by an off-duty RCMP officer in West Kelowna. The taxi was found to have left the man in Kelowna, at block 1600 on Pandosi Street, where the RCMP made an arrest after a brief chase.
“This coordinated effort demonstrates the excellent work done by the Kelowna Regional Squad,” said Sergeant Desmond Kilbauch of Kelowna’s Proactive Implementation of the RCMP. “Mr Hardy has put the public at risk with his latest brazen actions and we hope his arrest will stop him from traumatizing the public and business.”
Robin John Hardy, without a fixed address outside the Penticton, faces charges of robbery and breach of court orders stemming from a series of previous robberies in May.
ORIGINAL 4:00
Two Westbank Walmart employees were reportedly sprayed with pepper on Friday, June 3, 2022, by a customer.
Another Walmart employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told Castanet that the incident happened at 4 p.m.
“The suspect appears to be a man who wore a wig to look like a lady,” the officer said.
According to the officer, the suspect went to the electronics and said he wanted to buy a laptop.
“As soon as the officer opened the lock, he sprayed them and grabbed three laptops and tried to escape. He came out with a laptop. An RCMP was called and the area was glued. Several customers also had breathing problems due to the spray, “the employee added.
A witness said that the two associates were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Castanet contacted RCMP West Kelowna for more information.
Add Comment