Two men face criminal charges after two separate armed robberies in Red Deer Wednesday.
The first armed robbery took place just after 3:30 p.m. at the Express 24 Food-mart near the intersection of Erickson Drive and Ross Street. Red Deer RCMP said a man entered the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. The man then assaulted another employee and left the store with numerous lottery scratch tickets.
Police were able to locate the suspect after a witness saw the suspect’s direction of travel.
Derek Cattleman, 23, of Hobbema was arrested and has been charged with robbery with a weapon, assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm and failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking.
Cattleman was remanded into custody and made his first appearance in Red Deer provincial court Thursday morning.
Another armed robbery took place later Wednesday evening at about 11:30 p.m.
Police were called to the Fas Gas on Ross Street in the Michener Hill neighbourhood.
According to an RCMP release a man entered the store brandishing a knife and demanded money. The employee complied and the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
No one was injured during the robbery.
Police investigation led Red Deer RCMP to suspect John Saddleback, 21, of Hobbema. He was arrested and faces several charges, including robbery with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and three counts of failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking.
He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to make his first appearance in Red Deer provincial court on Friday.
Police said both men are known to one another, but it is not known if these incidents were pre-planned together.