RED DEER – A Red Deer County man is facing two counts of armed robbery in connection to a pair of heists within a half hour this week in Red Deer.
RCMP Cpl. Candace Hrdlicka said in a media release issued on Feb. 8 that Red Deer RCMP received a 911 call shortly after 3:10 p.m. on Feb. 6 reporting a robbery with a knife at a convenience store in the Eastview Shopping Plaza.
Hrdlicka said RCMP responded immediately but the male suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
She said a search for the male was conducted, with assistance from Police Dog Services (PDS).
Hrdlicka said Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section continued the investigation, which revealed the suspect had taken a small amount of cash before fleeing.
A half hour later at about 3:40 p.m., Red Deer RCMP responded to another 911 call reporting a second robbery with a knife at a gas station in the Deer Park neighbourhood, said Hrdlicka.
She said RCMP attended the location immediately.
Hrdlicka said the male suspect fled the location in a vehicle after taking a small amount of cash.
She said general duty police officers, along with PDS, searched for the male suspect but were unable to locate him.
“Red Deer RCMP GIS took over investigation into both of these incidents and determined they were related,” said Hrdlicka. “Video surveillance from one of the locations led police to identify the male suspect and vehicle used.”
Hrdlicka said police officers from Red Deer RCMP GIS, Crime Reduction Team and Downtown Patrol Unit executed a search warrant at a residence just south of city limits, where they also located the suspect vehicle.
She said police located and seized items used in the commission of the robberies, including the knife and clothing worn by the suspect.
Hrdlicka said police also recovered stolen cash.
She said Shawn Dejongh, a 32 year-old male resident of Red Deer County, has been arrested and charged in relation to both robberies.
Dejongh has been charged with two counts of robbery.
Following a judicial interim release hearing, Dejongh was remanded into custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer on Feb. 12.
