Bear-spray spree lands two in handcuffs
Charges have been laid against two men after a brief, cough-ridden crime spree last night (April 29).
Richard Annett-Chartier, 20, and Layton MacLaren, 19, are each facing two counts of attempted robbery and single counts of assault with a weapon and fraudulently obtaining food.
MacLaren is also facing an additional charge of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Grant Learned said the trouble began at about 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, when police were called to the Earls restaurant on Columbia Street for a report of a dine-and-dash.
About 20 minutes later, while an officer was at the restaurant following up, police received a report of an attempted mugging and bear-spraying in the 900-block of McGill Road, behind the Real Canadian Superstore.
Two victims were involved, and both refused to hand over their wallets. One of the victims was taken to hospital to be treated for the effects of the bear spray.
Ten minutes after that, at 8:45 p.m., Mounties received another report of a bear-spraying two blocks away, in the 700-block of McGill Road.
In that case, a man said he was approached by two men and asked for change. When he said no, he was hit with a blast of bear spray.
Two hours later, at 10:40 p.m., Learned said, the men approached a couple outside their Grandview Terrace home.
After a heated verbal exchange, the suspects attempted to bear spray the couple.
Annett-Chartier and MacLaren were arrested in an apartment a block away from the Grandview Terrace home.
In court today (April 30), Annett-Chartier was consent released, while MacLaren had his bail hearing put over to Thursday, May 3.
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