RCMP believe they’ve put a significant dent in a recent string of armed robberies in Popkum and Chilliwack after two men were arrested April 9.
On Thursday, April 9, 2015 at approximately 12:30 p.m. a man with his face covered and carrying a weapon, allegedly entered a convenience store on Wells Road in Chilliwack. The suspect allegedly demanded money from the clerk then fled on foot with stolen cash and product.
Shortly after, members of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment Crime Reduction Unit, located a suspected stolen vehicle in the Agassiz area and determined there may be a link between the driver and passenger, and the Wells Road robbery.
Allen Edward Rusk, age 32, of Rosedale, B.C. is facing charges of one count of Robbery, one count of Possession of Stolen property and one count of Breach of a Court Order and is held in custody for a court appearance later this month.
Herbert Martin Hanuse, age 24, of Rosedale, B.C. is charged with Robbery, Using an Imitation Firearm to Commit an Offence, Wearing a Disguise to Commit an Offence, Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to Public and is held in custody for a court appearance later this month.
“Our officers did not stop there,” says Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment spokesperson Corporal Mike Rail. “After further investigation, and with the support from many of our detachment and district services, Herbert Hanuse has been linked to three other robberies in the area, and now faces additional charges.”
Hanuse has been charged with three counts of Robbery, three counts of Wearing a Disguise to Commit Robbery, three counts of Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public, one count of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, and one count of Use Imitation Firearm to Commit an Offence stemming from robberies allegedly committed in Agassiz.
On January 19, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. a man with his face covered carrying a weapon allegedly entered a store in the 52800 block of Yale Road East. The suspect allegedly demanded money and fled on foot with the stolen cash.
On March 25, 2015 at 9:45 a.m. a man with his face covered and carrying a weapon allegedly entered a restaurant in the 53000 block of Bunker Road. The suspect allegedly demanded money then fled on a bicycle with the stolen cash.
On April 3, 2015 at 6:35 a.m. a man with his face covered and carrying a weapon allegedly entered a business in the 53000 block of Bunker Road. A struggle occurred between the man and a lone employee during which the employee received a non life threatening injury to his head. The suspect allegedly took product as he exited the business and fled on a bicycle.
Resources from Agassiz General Duty, General Investigation Section, Chilliwack General Duty, General Investigation Support Team, Crime Reduction Unit, Lower Mainland Integrated Dog Services, and Forensic Identification Services were all deployed in this investigation.
