A man is facing kidnapping and theft charges after allegedly forcing a woman at knifepoint to withdraw cash from a bank machine on New Year’s Day.
Red Deer RCMP allege that the suspect was at the home of the 60-year-old victim when he pulled a knife and demanded the woman’s bank card and PIN number.
It is alleged the victim was robbed of her keys and cash and then forced at knifepoint to get in her car. The two drove to a bank machine, where the man withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash.
The victim managed to get out of the vehicle and ran to another location where she phoned police around 8 p.m.
On Jan. 2, a police officer spotted the woman’s stolen vehicle while patrolling downtown Red Deer. The officer activated his lights and tried to pull the car over but it sped away. A short pursuit followed that ended after the suspect’s vehicle collided with two parked cars and side-swiped a police vehicle.
A search uncovered crack cocaine. It was also determined that the accused was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for violating parole.
Christopher Heggen, 27, of no fixed address, has been charged with two counts of robbery with a weapon, and single counts of hostage taking, criminal flight from police, dangerous driving and possession of crack cocaine.
Heggen also faces four charges under the Traffic Safety Act.
Heggen is in custody and will return to Red Deer provincial court on Jan. 10.