RCMP in Yellowknife say they have charged two men in connection with separate armed robberies involving knives last week.
In the first incident, police said an alleged robbery was reported around noon on March 4.
According to an RCMP press release, a tourist visiting Yellowknife from abroad was walking down the street when a man grabbed her phone and ran away. A bystander who pursued the man reported that he took out a large knife and threatened the bystander.
Police said they arrested Billy Pederson, 43, in relation to the incident. He is facing charges for assault with a weapon, theft, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, resisting arrest and failing to comply with release conditions.
The following day, police said they responded to a report of an alleged robbery at Walmart on Old Airport Road shortly before noon. Security guards at the store reported they had tried to stop a man from stealing items when he took out a knife, threatened security staff and fled the store.
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Police said they arrested Jeremy Kuneyuna, 29, and charged him with robbery with a weapon, four counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of possessing property obtained by crime, and failing to comply with probation conditions.
The charges against Pederson and Kuneyuna have not been proven in court.
Police said there have been a total of eight robberies involving knives in Yellowknife since February 19, presenting “considerable risk to the public and the officers responding to these incidents.”
