An Ontario man is facing more than a dozen charges — and potentially more — after a lengthy crime spree across several Saskatchewan towns.
The 37-year-old, who on Thursday allegedly robbed a jewellery store in Moosomin and a pharmacy in Indian Head before stealing a car in Outlook and gas in Rosetown, was only arrested after Mounties laid out a spike belt just south of Biggar.
RCMP said in a media release officers were first called at about 3:45 p.m. Thursday. A man entered a Moosomin jewellery store and, while being shown watches, pushed the store owner before making off with a watch. He fled in a vehicle, but the owner was able to provide investigators with a licence plate number and vehicle description.
The next call came in just after 5 p.m. A pharmacy in Indian Head was robbed by a man who stole an undisclosed amount of medication. He fled the scene in a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle from the Moosomin incident, RCMP said. The vehicle had an Ontario licence plate, and witness statements and surveillance video allowed officers to determine a female — police have not yet clarified her age — was driving the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle was eventually stopped by RCMP just east of Outlook. The driver was arrested at the scene but the man, who was wanted on a number of warrants out of Ontario, ignored police and fled in the vehicle. He turned on to a dead-end street but was able to escape RCMP after fleeing on foot.
Mounties set up a perimeter in the area and police dogs were called to the scene, but at 9:10 p.m., a car was reported stolen from Outlook and a gas and dash was reported in Rosetown. The car in the gas theft matched the description of the stolen vehicle, RCMP said.
A witness told police the suspect was headed towards Biggar, which allowed Mounties to stop the suspect with a spike belt on Highway 4.
The man was charged with 14 offences, including robbery, robbery with a firearm, uttering threats to police, assault police officer, theft, break and enter, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
His first court appearance is set for Friday morning in North Battleford Provincial Court.
Further charges may be pending, according to police.