Four charged in St. Albert robbery spree

Alberta RCMP have charged four people in connection with a series of robberies that unfolded in St. Albert on June 26.

Mounties responded to the first armed robbery at a liquor store around 6:44 p.m., where two men allegedly attempted to leave without paying. When staff confronted them, one man allegedly produced a firearm. The pair fled in a vehicle bearing a stolen license plate that had been reported missing from Edmonton earlier that day.

Around 7:17 p.m., officers responded to a second armed robbery at another liquor store, where two men allegedly stole cash. Then, at 8:01 p.m., a third robbery occurred at a clothing store when a man allegedly took 20 shirts and displayed a firearm to two employees.

Following the third incident, officers located a vehicle believed to be connected in a nearby store parking lot — it also carried the stolen Edmonton license plate and was itself stolen from Edmonton. Police took three people into custody from the vehicle. A short time later, a fourth person was spotted exiting a nearby store carrying a sledgehammer and tool bag. That person attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended with help from a member of the public.

A search of the vehicle turned up bear spray, a sword, and break-in tools. The four charged are: 22-year-old Justin Elden Aulotte-Landry of Edmonton, 40-year-old Dylan Eyahpaise of Edmonton, 18-year-old Shanaya Eyahpaise of Wetaskiwin, and 23-year-old Shayden Johnston of Edmonton. All face three counts of robbery, four counts of possession of property obtained by a crime, two counts of possession of a prohibited device for the purpose of committing an offence, and theft under $5,000. Aulotte-Landry was also charged with resisting arrest; Shanaya Eyahpaise with possession of a controlled substance; Dylan Eyahpaise with driving while disqualified or suspended; and Johnston with three counts of failing to comply with a release order and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.