2 men, 1 woman charged following robbery and grand theft auto crime spree
Charges have been laid following a crime spree in Leduc, Alberta, last week that included two robberies, brandishing of a firearm, a police pursuit, and a stolen semi-truck.
Three suspects each face numerous charges in relation to the incident that all started at the Premium Outlet mall near Edmonton International Airport on November 30, 2019.
Around 7:40 pm, Leduc RCMP were called to the outlet mall after a woman had been assaulted and her purse stolen. A short while later, police were called to a separate robbery at a liquor store in Millet, where two suspects entered the store, brandished a firearm, and demanded money.
According to an RCMP release, “based on the description of the suspect vehicle provided by the victims, police determined that the same individuals were responsible for both crimes and the suspect vehicle was stolen. While on route to the liquor store police located the suspect vehicle and began to pursue.”
The suspect vehicle was pursued to Highway 2, south of Leduc, where police deployed a spike belt.
Although the suspect vehicle lost all four tires, it continued to travel at low speed on only tire rims, northbound on the highway, before crossing the median into oncoming traffic and colliding with a semi-tractor trailer.
According to police, after the collision the three suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot before two of them were apprehended. The third suspect, seeing that the semi-truck driver had exited his vehicle, got into the semi-truck and fled.
“The truck then came to a stop when the brakes locked. Police immediately apprehended the suspect who was taken into custody without further incident,” said a release from Alberta RCMP.
According to police, no one was injured during the pursuit or the collision.
“Due to the quick actions and coordinated efforts by Maskwacis, Wetaskiwin, and Leduc RCMP and the Central Alberta District RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, the risk to motorists during the incident was low and police were successful in apprehending three dangerous individuals,” said Alberta RCMP in the release.
According to police, 21-year-old Nicholas Page Stocco, 25-year-old Deven Alfonso Richardson, and 22-year-old Chantal Vossler have all been charged with robbery with an imitation firearm, robbery, possession of an imitation firearm dangerous to public, use of an imitation firearm in the commission of an offence, two counts of fraud under $5,000, and two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Stocco faces further charges of two counts of flight from police, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving while disqualified, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, eight counts of disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, and failure to comply with conditions.
Police say all three remain in custody and are expected to appear in court next week.
Leduc is about 35 km outside of Edmonton.