city crime

Noisy response by victim thwarts armed robbery

Feb 14, 2019 | 12:01 PM

Some sharp and noisy thinking by the victim in a scary incident in Prince Albert last night appears to have helped.

Around 11 p.m., a man holding a pipe or tool demanded money as well as the victim’s vehicle outside the mini mall in the 2700 block of Second Ave.W.

P.A. police said the male victim wasn’t prepared to let things slide quietly.

“The victim in this case yelled, which gains attention…and the victim sounded their car alarm which ultimately scared the suspect off,” Sergeant Travis Willie told paNOW.

Officers responded and flooded the area. Within 30 minutes they’d nabbed the suspect at 24th Street and Second Ave.W. who matched a description given by the victim. Damian Durocher, 31, resisted arrest but was handcuffed after a brief struggle. He made his first court appearance today.

“There’s no right or wrong way to respond to a scary incident like this,” Willie said. “We do not recommend you get involved physically … but you can yell for help, yell ‘weapon’ or anything like that, but it’s going to get other people’s attention and hopefully ultimately that’s going to scare the suspect off.”

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow

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