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A Milton man was arrested by Toronto Police following a robbery at a cannabis dispensary.
On Wednesday, June 21st, police responded to a robbery call in the Dundas Street West and Burnhamthorpe Road area.
The following is alleged:
- a male suspect entered the store and asked the employee for assistance
- he produced a handgun and jumped over the checkout counter
- he tackled the employee and placed them in a chokehold while demanding they open the safe
- he struck the employee several times with the handgun
- he took a quantity of cash from the register and the safe and then made a demand for cannabis products
- he forced the employee to place a large quantity of cannabis products into a garbage bag
- he fled the store with the cash and cannabis products
Members of the Hold Up Squad commenced an investigation and were able to identify the man.
On Wednesday, June 28th, the man was located and taken into custody.
Shortly afterward, members of the Hold Up Squad, with the assistance of officers from the TPS Emergency Task Force and the 22 Division Major Crime Unit, executed a Criminal Code Search Warrant in relation to their investigation.
It is further alleged that, at the time of the search, officers recovered several items of evidentiary value including a quantity of the stolen cash and cannabis products.
38-year-old Richard Robert Smith of Milton was charged with:
- Robbery With Firearm
- Assault With a Weapon
- Weapons Dangerous
- Two counts of Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under
- Fail to Comply Probation
He appeared in court for a Bail Hearing on Wednesday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
