A teenager has been charged with multiple offences after holding up four businesses at gunpoint Friday night and attempting to mug a jogger, police said.
The Winnipeg Police Service said Monday all five robberies happened between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, within close proximity of each other, with a suspect fleeing on a bicycle.
A pistol used turned out to be a pellet gun, police said.
In the first robbery, a suspect with his face covered confronted a man jogging near Wellington Crescent and Cordova Street, demanding money while armed with a handgun, police said.
The jogger ran to safety and called police, as his assailant chased him.
The suspect, police said, next went to a fast food restaurant on the 900 block of Corydon Avenue, where he demanded a drink and cash from an employee while armed with the weapon, but fled without receiving either.
Next, the suspect went to a gas station on the 400 block of Academy Road, where he pointed the gun at an attendant, who handed over cash, police said.
A gas station on the 400 block of Ness Avenue was held up next, police said, where the suspect again received money before running off.
His final stop was a St. James craft store where he demanded and received cash from the till, police said.
The suspect, who was similarly described by six of the victims, fled on an electric bicycle but was hit by a vehicle at St. James Street and St. Matthews Avenue, disabling the bike.
The suspect continued on foot and officers caught up with him on Madison Avenue, where he was arrested. He was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries after his bike was hit.
None of the victims were hurt.
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with five counts each of robbery, disguise with intent and using an imitation firearm during an indictable offence, as well as one count of possession of a weapon. He remains in custody.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca