On April 26, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Eskasoni RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress at a business on Shore Rd.
RCMP officers were on scene within two minutes of receiving the call. Upon arrival, they learned that store security staff had attempted to apprehend the suspect before he presented a knife and fled into a nearby wooded area.
No one was injured in the incident.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., RCMP officers received information that the robbery suspect might be at a residence on Raspberry Ln. After attending the location, officers saw a man outside the home who matched the description of the suspect. When the man saw police, he ran inside the residence.
A few moments later, officers arrested 34-year-old Randy Travis Alex of We'koqma'q (Waycobah).
RCMP officers searched the Raspberry Ln. home and found a knife matching the description of the one used in the robbery, a sweater matching the one worn by the robbery suspect, and money. Alex was transported to the Eskasoni RCMP Detachment where more money was found in his clothing.
Alex was held in custody until a remand hearing. He's due to appear in Sydney Provincial Court on April 29, at 9:30 a.m., to face charges of:
- Robbery with Offensive Weapon
- Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
- Assault with Weapon
- Resist Arrest
- Breach of Probation
The investigation, which is ongoing, is being led by the Eskasoni RCMP, with assistance from Baddeck RCMP, Police Dog Services and Forensic Identification Services.