Man charged in spate of Henderson Highway robberies

A man is facing more than 20 charges in connection with a string of store robberies on Henderson Highway this week.

A masked suspect armed with a knife, or saying he had a knife, threatened employees and demanded cash and cigarettes. The robberies happened Sunday and Tuesday.

The victim in the first incident — at a gas bar on Henderson’s 900 block at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday — was stabbed and “seriously” injured, police said Friday. The suspect fled on foot with merchandise. The victim, a man in his 20s, was transported to hospital in unstable condition and upgraded to stable.

All the other incidents happened Tuesday. A robber made off with merchandise from a convenience store on the 1300 block at about 6 a.m. and a convenience store on the 1800 block at 9:15 a.m. Five minutes later, a suspect tried to rob a fast-food restaurant on the 1700 block but obtained nothing.

Shortly after, at about 9:30 a.m., a suspect tried to rob a gas station restaurant on the 1900 block. An employee tried to hold the door closed to prevent the robber from entering, but the man overpowered him and made off with cash. About an hour later, a man robbed the same store on the 1800 block that was targeted earlier that morning and made off with cash.

The robber then ran across a grocery store parking lot on the 1700 block, confronted a man in his 20s, demanded his property and tried to punch him.

A cruiser car searching the area saw the altercation. A man fled and was arrested after a short foot pursuit. He was taken to hospital because it was believed he was under the influence of methamphetamine.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with 21 offences related to robbery, aggravated assault and weapons. He was detained in custody.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca