Police are searching for two suspects following an attempted robbery at gunpoint near the downtown tennis courts early Wednesday night.
Police said at about 6:10 p.m., two suspects approached a man sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot near the tennis courts near the Recreation Centre.
The pair demanded the man get out of his vehicle and showed him a gun. When the man refused and began to drive away, one of the suspects struck his window with the gun and the pair fled on foot.
RCMP responded immediately and searched the area with the assistance of Police Dog Services, but did not locate the suspects.
There were other vehicles in the parking lot at the time of the attempted robbery. Police are looking for witnesses who might have seen something suspicious in the area at the time.
Barb McKee, the city’s recreation superintendent, said Commissionaires contracted by the city who typically start patrolling Rotary Recreation Park for the summer season in June are now on the job due to the all the construction in the area.
One suspect carrying the gun was described as aboriginal, about 25 years old, 1.7 metres (five feet eight inches) tall, clean shaven, with a slender build. He wore a light-coloured, long-sleeve shirt and pants.
The other suspect was 1.3 metres (five feet five inches) tall with a thicker build. He wore dark clothing, a ball cap and red bandanna with a yellow design over his face.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If information leads to an arrest there could be a cash reward up to $2,000.