Police say they have arrested a local man in connection to an alleged two-hour crime spree in rural Lac La Biche that involved a vehicle being shot at and the attempted robbery of a local gas station.
On August 28, Lac La Biche RCMP confirmed they had formally laid charges against a man in connection to both of the incidents that took place on Thursday, August 20.
Police say they were called to the Hylo area at 9:45 that night after three occupants in a Jeep reported they had been shot at after their vehicle stopped to offer assistance to people inside a silver Hyundai car that had pulled over. Police say that when the Jeep pulled up, a man got out of the Hyundai, raised a gun and fired several shots at the Jeep. Police say the Jeep suffered damage to the front and rear passenger-side fenders. None of the occupants were physically injured.
Police searched the area for vehicles matching the description. Two hours later, just prior to midnight, RCMP received a report from the 881 Corner Gas service station on Lakeland Drive and Highway 881 that a man had just ran from the store after demanding money from the cashier. The man was said to be wearing a red bandanna that covered the lower part of his face, and had was seen getting out of a silver car that had parked at the store's gas pumps. No one was injured in the attempted robbery.
RCMP and municipal peace officers arrived at the scene and blocked nearby roadways. Police dog services were also called in from St. Paul, and four suspects were eventually arrested.
"During the arrest, a revolver-style BB gun as well as shotgun shells were recovered," said Lac La Biche RCMP Corp. Roxanne Genereaux.
Court this week
Keenan Cardinal, 18, of Beaver Lake has been charged with attempted robbery, disguise with intent to commit an offence, reckless discharge of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, pointing a firearm and assault with a weapon. Cardinal has been remanded into custody until his first provincial court appearance this week on the charges.
Genereaux says the investigation into the most recent incidents is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information about either event to contact the Lac La Biche RCMP detachment at 780-404-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Red Bandana
Lac La Biche RCMP have told LakelandToday they don't believe there is a connection to the red bandana reported in the this attempted gas station robbery to a similar face-covering used by suspects in a string of crimes in the region in January of this year. Police say they have another suspect identified for those crimes, but cannot release further details as that investigation is continuing.
RELATED: JANUARY 2020 CRIME SPREE FEATURED RED BANDANA
