A 36-year-old man is facing 17 charges after allegedly flooding the holding cells at the Owen Sound police station, following three back-to-back robbery incidents.
The Owen Sound Police Service says on Tuesday around 9am, a male was struck in the head and robbed in the area of 8th St. and 16th Ave. E. He was treated in hospital for a minor head injury before being released.
Shortly after at around 9:20am, a man with a weapon demanded a cigarette and threatened a customer who was exiting a convenience store in the area of 16th Ave. E and 9th Ave. The victim handed over a cigarette and the man took off.
A few minutes later, a third victim was threatened and chased by a man in the area of 16th St. E and 8th Ave. E, after the victim refused to allow the man to use a cell phone. Following a short chase, the victim was able to escape.
Officers later located a suspect on 15th St. E and after a foot chase, a 36-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested at Victoria Park. A collapsible bike pump was seized during the arrest, and is believed to have been used as a weapon in the first two incidents.
While being held in custody at Owen Sound Police Service headquarters, the man allegedly damaged a sprinkler head located in his cell. This resulted in the flooding of the entire cell block area.
The man is now charged with assault with a weapon, three counts of robbery, three counts of uttering threats, wearing a disguise while committing a criminal offence, mischief under $5,000, and eight counts of breaching a probation order.
He is also being investigated for other crimes committed over this past weekend. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
