INNISFAIL - An Innisfail man who was the subject of a 60-hour police manhunt for multiple local robbery-related offences gave himself up to RCMP.
Alberta RCMP Cpl. Candace Hrdlicka said in a media release today (Aug. 30), a 26-year-old Innisfail man surrendered to Innisfail RCMP at 10 a.m. on Aug. 29. She said the man was arrested without incident.
The 60-hour drama began at about 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 when Mounties responded to a report of an armed robbery at a business on 50th Street.
Hrdlicka said a suspect entered the business disguised with a balaclava and carrying a weapon. The suspect demanded cash from a customer and from the store employee, she said.
Hrdlicka said the suspect took an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency and fled on foot. Despite a thorough coordinated search of the area the suspect was not located, she said.
At about 1:40 a.m. on Aug. 28 RCMP were dispatched to another report of a robbery from the same business, said Hrdlicka.
She said a suspect entered the business, disguised with a black face mask and carrying a weapon. Hrdlicka said the suspect demanded items from the same cashier.
She said the suspect took an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency and cigarettes. The suspect forced the cashier into the back office, and the suspect attempted to destroy the video surveillance system, said Hrdlicka. The suspect then fled on foot.
Hrdlicka said at 9:20 p.m. on Aug. 28 RCMP were dispatched to a third robbery complaint at an address on 46A Street. She said a suspect armed with a weapon attempted to steal a vehicle from a victim but was unsuccessful.
At 9:24 p.m., RCMP were dispatched to a business on 42nd Avenue for a similar complaint, she said.
Hrdlicka said the victim reported that a suspect who was carrying a weapon tried to steal the victim’s truck. When the suspect was unsuccessful, he then fled the area on foot.
Police officers from Innisfail, Red Deer and Blackfalds RCMP detachments, as well as the RCMP Police Dog Services and the RCMP Emergency Response Team, conducted an intensive search for the suspect, who was ultimately arrested at the Innisfail RCMP detachment during the morning of Aug. 29.
Cyrus Jason Boysis, 26, of Innisfail, has been charged several offences including:
• five counts of robbery with a firearm;
• forcible confinement;
• three counts of disguise with intent to commit an offence;
• three counts of pointing a firearm;
• five counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and
• mischief under $5,000.
Hrdlicka said after a judicial interim release hearing Boysis was released to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Sept. 27 at 9:30 a.m.
She said Innisfail RCMP believe this suspect was responsible for all four incidents and that there is no further concern for public safety at this time. Innisfail RCMP’s General Investigation Section is continuing with the investigation.
