Two youths charged in Dartmouth armed robberies

CITYnews halifax \ By Dan Ahlstrand

Two 15-year-old youths face several charges after a daylight robbery in Dartmouth Tuesday afternoon.

Halifax Regional Police were called to the 100 block of Caledonia Road after a report that a man was held up by a group of teens who had arranged to meet him to buy some electronics. The victim said that one of the youths had flashed a knife, and a second had shown what was believed to be a firearm before taking the man’s property and leaving the scene.

A short time later, officers spotted the suspect at a residence on Roleika Drive and set up a perimeter to contain the area. During this containment process, two area schools were placed into lockdown as a precaution.

Police took three youths into custody and, through their investigation, alleged that two of the suspects were involved in two similar robberies in the same area. During the police search of the residence, officers discovered a replica firearm, fake money and stolen property.

HRP says that through this investigation, officers determined that one of the teens was involved in two similar robberies in the same area.

On the evening of April 20, a youth met two men to purchase electronics advertised for sale on an online marketplace. When the men arrived, the child initially tried to pay with fake money. When they refused to take the counterfeit cash, he showed what was believed to be a firearm, took the electronic equipment, and fled on foot. Then on April 22, two youths met a man to purchase electronics advertised for sale on an online marketplace. One of the youths took the electronics and left the area. The other youth showed the man what was believed to be a firearm and then fled on foot.

Two teens now face a series of charges in connection with these three incidents:

• A 15-year-old youth was scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial youth court Wednesday to face the following charges in relation to the three robberies:
  Robbery (x3)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (x3)
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (x3)
• Carrying a concealed weapon (x3)
• Using a firearm in the commission of an offence (x3)
• Possession of a firearm while prohibited (x3)
• Uttering forged documents (fake money)
• Fail to comply with conditions of a court order (x7)

A second 15-year-old youth was scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial youth court at a later date to face the following charges in relation to Tuesday’s robbery:

• Robbery
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace
• Carrying a concealed weapon
• The third teen arrested on Tuesday was released without charges.