An armed robbery suspect is in custody and a small child in his car was taken into the care of police when the man was arrested almost immediately following his gas station heist.
The suspect, a 31-year-old male, was apprehended at 6th and Victoria only moments after he used a knife to hold up a gas station at the corner of 5th Avenue and Carney Street. The incident happened at about 10:15 a.m.
Mounties were on their way to the scene even before the gas station attendant raised the alarm. The Citizen has learned that a phone call to police reported a man pulling on a balaclava while approaching the gas station.
"Yes, we did get information from the public of something suspicious going on there," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglas. "Although it is not unheard of to wear a balaclava in the winter, this is a mild day, it seemed suspicious and yes it did set our wheels in motion."
According to Douglass, the suspect fled the gas station on foot, made his way back to a nearby vehicle in which was also the child and a dog, and he was apprehended when his vehicle was pulled over minutes later.
There was some suggestion a second arrest was also made. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously inform Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS / www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
