QUESNEL

Friday, July 28, 2023 | 6:45 am. Last updated on August 1, 2023.

UPDATE –

The Quesnel RCMP have two people under arrest for the armed robbery and carjacking that occurred on July 27, 2023 at the 7-Eleven convenience store in Quesnel.

Police investigation identified Travis Paul (35 years old) and Desarae Hiebert (30 years old) as suspects.

On July 28, 2023 the Cariboo-Chilcotin Crime Reduction Unit (C-CRU) located the victim’s stolen Chevrolet Malibu abandoned in Williams Lake. During patrols, C-CRU located Paul and Hiebert and arrested them without incident. During the search of the accused, the police seized a replica handgun.

Bail hearings were held and Travis Paul has been charged with eight offences including robbery, theft of motor vehicle, uttering threats, wearing a disguised face to commit an indictable offence, flight from police, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order. Paul was remanded in custody with his next court appearance on August 3, 2023.

Desarae Hiebert has been charged with eight offences including robbery, theft of motor vehicle, uttering threats, and wearing a disguised face while committing an indictable offence. Hiebert was remanded into custody with a next court appearance on July 31, 2023.

Both Paul and Hiebert are well known to the Quesnel RCMP.

Original Story below…

Police in Quesnel continue to search for a couple of carjacking suspects after two youths were robbed of their wallets and vehicle at gunpoint during the overnight on Thursday…

Police say on July 27, 2023, at approximately 2:46 AM, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred in a parking lot of the 7-Eleven convenience store located on Maple Drive. The complainant reported a male and female suspect approached two youths, presented a firearm, and demanded their wallets and car keys. The youths complied and the suspects fled in the youth’s 2013 grey Chevrolet Malibu.

While responding to the call, officers located the vehicle travelling down Plywood Hill on Johnston Avenue. When the officers activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle fled through Johnston Subdivision and then south on Highway 97. A pursuit was initiated but as the stolen vehicle was entering Kersley, the pursuit was terminated due to the high rate of speed and the risk to public safety.

“The suspects in this carjacking traumatized the victims by robbing them at gunpoint and then placed the police and public at risk with a high speed pursuit,” said S/Sgt. Richard Weseen, of the Quesnel RCMP. “The youths did the right thing by complying with the suspects demands to avoid a physical altercation.”

The male suspect was described as

• 6 ft tall
• skinny
• wearing a black hoody and a white dirt bike helmet.

The female suspect was described as

• 5’7″ tall
• skinny, and was wearing a black hoody
• had a black mask over her face

RCMP ask for anyone who observes the 2013 grey Chevrolet Malibu (BC license plate SJ946R) to call 911 and not to approach the vehicle.

Anyone with dash cam video from the 7-Eleven store parking lot from 2:00 AM and 2:50 AM on July 27, 2023, is asked to contact the Quesnel RCMP at 250-992-9211 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.