A father allegedly brought his young child while robbing a gas station in southern British Columbia this week, criminal authorities described as “deeply disturbing”.
Even more worrying is that the suspect also used his young child as a shield when confronted by an RCMP officer.
Authorities said the incident happened Thursday night in Kamloops, where a man entered a gas station on Westsyde Road holding the hand of a three-year-old child.
The suspect allegedly demanded money from the officer, then lifted his shirt, revealing the butt of something that looked like a gun.
Kamloops’ RCMP said the robbery was reported quickly to an officer who stopped traffic in the area and noticed the father and son leaving the scene.
He managed to find a suspect nearby, which led to a tense clash.
“While it is deeply worrying that someone would commit robbery with a child, it is even more worrying that he allegedly threatened the police officer and used his child as a shield by placing his child between himself and the police officer,” officials said. Sergeant Janel Schoyhet said in a press release.
The suspect eventually released the young child, who fled to another family member, according to the Kamloops RCMP. Authorities said the father was detained after a brief fight and was found to be carrying a copy of a firearm.
The suspect, a 32-year-old Oliver resident, faces a number of possible charges, including robbery, threatening, violating the firearms ban and resisting arrest.
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