A man has been charged with the robbery at gunpoint of a gas station last month in Abbotsford, and police are now seeking witnesses to the incident.
The robbery took place at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 at the Shell gas station at the corner of Riverside Street and Harris Road. Police did not release information about it at the time.
Sgt. Judy Bird said on that day, a man walked up to the cashier, produced a gun and demanded money.
She said the suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene on foot.
Bird said a 39-year-old Abbotsford man was arrested for the robbery.
According to the provincial court database, the man arrested is Royston William Verney. He was charged on June 2 with two counts of robbery, using an imitation firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breaching his bail conditions.
Bird said police believe there might have been customers in the parking lot who witnessed the robbery and the suspect leaving the scene.
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Investigators are also seeking dash-cam footage from anyone who might have been driving in the area of Riverside Street and Harris Road during the time and day in question.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the APD at 604-859-5225, text 222973 (abbypd) or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca.
Verney was also charged for three offences on Feb. 19, 2019 in Abbotsford. Those charges are for possession of a firearm, driving while suspended, and possessing an unauthorized non-firearm.
He also faces a break-and-enter charge in Abbotsford that allegedly occurred on April 16 of this year.
Verney also has a criminal history in Ontario. In 2010, he attempted to rob a grocery store in Hamilton, Ont., according to news reports at the time.
When he attempted to reach toward the cash register, the clerk quickly slammed the till shut on his hand, and Verney ran away empty-handed.
He was seen getting into a pickup truck and driving away, and police then pursued him briefly before arresting him. He was subsequently charged with robbery and dangerous driving.
Other news reports indicate that Verney was again arrested and charged in 2013 after a robbery occurred at a bank in Brantford, Ont.
A description of the suspect vehicle was given to police, but when they tried to pull over the car, the driver ignored the emergency lights and siren. The car eventually stopped, and the driver and passenger tried to run away, but were quickly arrested by officers.
Verney and another man were each charged with robbery with a firearm, using a disguise, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and fleeing from police officers.
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Vikki Hopes | Reporter
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