A man suspected of stealing several lottery tickets at a Red Deer gas station early Tuesday morning spent the day unsuccessfully trying to cash in winning tickets.
A suspect was found early Wednesday after police were called to a disturbance involving the man who was intoxicated.
A 29-year-old man, of no fixed address, faces robbery charges after reports of a man brandishing an axe at Centex gas station on 88 Howarth St. on Tuesday at 6:15 a.m.
He wore a mask and made off with cash and lottery tickets.
Later that morning, police received a complaint of a man attempting to cash in a scratch and win lottery ticket at a Centex gas station in Glendale.
“He was confronted by staff and took off running. Police were not able to find him,” said RCMP Cpl. Kathe DeHeer on Thursday.
An investigating officer made inquiries and found out a man was trying to cash lottery tickets around town.
DeHeer said through “good, solid police investigation,” the officer came up with a suspect.
At 9:16 a.m. on Wednesday, the same officer attended a disturbance complaint in Red Deer involving an intoxicated male and found the suspect.
The suspect was released on information to appear in court. His name has not been released pending swearing of the charges.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com