The Big Event: From the local street’s to downtown Duncan stage page 3 News: One of Cowichan’s greatest athletes ready for a London finish page 5 For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com Your news leader since 1905
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Andrew Leong
Cyclists Kyla Muir, Erica Flater, Andrea Norlund, Richenda Woods, Cody Adams and Mike Swanston of the Wedding Crashers team stroll through the vineyard at Rocky Creek Winery during the annual Cowichan Valley Grape Escape MS Bike Tour Saturday.
Suspect nabbed after robber bear-sprays four in Duncan jewel heist Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
P
olice are investigating Saturday’s theft at Duncan’s Heritage Pawn Shop, where a masked man allegedly bear-sprayed four people inside the store then stole a display case ¿lled with diamond and gold jewelry. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Cpl. Greg Pask said the arrested suspect from Surrey faces seven charges — including robbery with violence — after cops were called to the Whistler Street shop after the suspect Àed in a
1994 red BMW. “The vehicle and suspect were located by assisting members of the Ladysmith RCMP detachment,” Pask says in a press email about the alleged 10:20 a.m. robbery. “The 30-year-old suspect, Ryan Gunold, is a resident of the Lower Mainland and was transported to North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment for a bail hearing.” Gunold’s case was heard in Duncan Provincial Court Monday. He’s scheduled back in Duncan court July 17 to consider his release while authorities deal with his case, court staff said.
Shop owner Gord Malcolm said the suspect entered his shop just after it opened, then sprayed three staffers and a customer who were later treated by paramedics. “I walked through that spray 10 minutes later, and my eyes were burning,” said Malcolm, who was in his of¿ce and not hit. The heist was Heritage Pawn’s ¿rst, Malcolm said, noting his alleged stolen property is not insured. “He bear-sprayed, then grabbed the jewelry case and headed out to the car. It was the shop’s jewelry, not customers’. While I called 911, two of my guys chased him to his car
and they got a description of it.” That jewelry case, holding about 60 rings, was attached to the shop’s wall, he said. Its bottom fell out when the suspect grabbed it and pulled, Malcolm explained. “Most of the jewelry was left on the Àoor, and there was more in the parking lot.” Pask said police requested a warrant to search the BMW now in RCMP custody. The suspect also faces four charges of assault with a weapon (bear spray), one charge for wearing a disguise with intent, and one charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Pask said.
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