Man arrested after allegedly robbing gas station with toddler

An Oliver man is accused of robbing a Kamloops gas station with his three-year-old toddler at his side.

Mounties say the suspect allegedly entered the gas station on Thursday, near Wawn Road on Westsyde Road, holding his toddler’s hand and approached the counter to demand money. The suspect pulled up his shirt, showing what appeared to be a firearm.

Around 7 p.m. on Thursday, a Kamloops RCMP officer was performing a traffic stop in a gas station parking lot. He was alerted about an armed robbery that had just happened at the same gas station.

The responding RCMP officer saw the man and his toddler leaving the gas station and found them nearby.

The man allegedly threatened the officer and used the child as a barrier between himself and the officer.

“While it is deeply disturbing that someone would commit a robbery with a child, it is even more concerning that he is alleged to have threatened the officer and used his child as a shield, by putting his child between himself and the officer,” said Janelle Shoihet, S/Sgt. with the RCMP.

After a brief altercation, the man was taken into custody and a replica firearm was found in his possession.

The 32-year-old man is expected to appear in court Friday.

Charges were said to possibly include robbery, uttering threats, breach of a firearms prohibition, and resisting arrest.