Robbery suspects arrested following two incidents in Prince George…

PRINCE GEORGE, BC: Two suspects were arrested following a robbery with a weapon on Sunday (March 21) morning…

Police say at 7:30 AM, on March 21, 2021, the Prince George RCMP received a report of a robbery that occurred at approximately 6:30 AM at the corner of Victoria Street and 20th Avenue. The call was coming from emergency room staff on behalf of the victim, who had made his way to hospital on foot after the robbery.

Police attended the hospital and spoke with the victim, who told police he was walking along the street near a bus stop and saw a male on a bike. The male came up behind the victim and struck him in the head multiple times, with what appeared to be a “lanyard and ball.” The suspect kicked the victim, stole his cell phone and then left.

Minutes later, at 7:34 AM on the same morning, the Prince George RCMP received a report of a robbery from a convenience store located on the 1500 block of 20th Avenue.

The caller stated two people had entered the business and threatened staff with a metal bike lock and chain. One suspect demanded staff give them all of the cigarettes and if they did not, that he would shoot them. That suspect left the store without any cigarettes and staff locked the door behind him. However, he returned moments later and the second suspect let him back into the store.

The first suspect returned with the metal pipe and chain and used them to smash the front counter. Witnesses stated he then climbed over the counter, grabbed five packs of cigarettes, and left the store with the second suspect. Witnesses told police the pair headed through a parking lot of a restaurant on the corner of Victoria Street and 20th Avenue, checking for unlocked vehicle doors as they went.

Frontline members flooded the area surrounding Victoria Street and 20th Avenue. Within three minutes of the second call coming in, police had both suspects in custody. Police located all five packages of cigarettes on the two suspects as well as a cell phone, which was determined to belong to the victim of the first robbery.

Police identified the pair as 32-year-old Derek HENRY of Edmonton, Alberta and 41-year-old Georgina WEST of Prince George. Members transported both HENRY and WEST to the Prince George RCMP Detachment where they remained until they could attend court the next day.

“The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved two counts of robbery, one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and one count each of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon against HENRY. They have approved one count of robbery and one count of possession of an imitation weapon against WEST.

“HENRY will remain in custody until his next court appearance while WEST is back in the community and will return to court at a future date,” states Cst. Jennifer Cooper of the Prince George RCMP.