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February 02, 2015 - 12:15 PM
LAKE COUNTRY - The man accused of robbing the Lake Country 7-Eleven at gunpoint is in bigger trouble after allegedly assaulting a police officer and breaching the conditions of his release.
The armed robbery happened January 21 just before 3 a.m. at the 7-Eleven at 9724 Highway 97, according to an RCMP media release. The clerk told police the lone masked man, now identified as Dennis Garth De Witt, came into the store brandishing a rifle and demanded cash, cigarettes and lottery tickets before speeding away in a dark Pontiac G6 with the goods. Nobody was injured and the amount of cash taken was not disclosed.
The alleged robber travelling at a high rate of speed was eventually tracked going north on Glenmore Road and caught south of Oyama on the Pelmawash Parkway as he attempted a U-turn. Mounties forced the vehicle into the ditch and arrested the driver without incident. The stolen cash and property were recovered.
De Witt appeared in court January 22 charged with robbery, disguise and intent, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, use of an imitation firearm while committing, flight from police and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Within a few hours of his release, Lake Country RCMP say they found De Witt drunk and arrested him for breaching the conditions of his release.
Shortly after that, RCMP say De Witt, who was in a jail cell, was seen attempting to use his clothes for self harm. Police tried to interve but when they entered his cell there was a struggle and it's alleged De Witt repeatedly punched and kicked an officer until he was restrained.
The officer received non-life-threatening injuries and was take to Kelowna General Hospital for treatment and was released.
De Witt can add breach of recognizance and assaulting a peace officer to the list of charges he faces. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Kelowna Provincial Court Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Shelley Jordan at sjordan@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015