Port Alberni RCMP responded to the armed robbery of a United Cabs taxi driver at 4:10 p.m. on May 3.
A male passenger had requested a ride from McDonald's Restaurant on Redford Street to Stamp Falls Provincial Park on Beaver Creek Road in Port Alberni. Upon arrival at the park, the passenger produced a handgun and demanded the taxi driver turn over his wallet and exit the cab. The driver complied and the suspect stole the taxi and drove off.
All available members of the Port Alberni detachment along with police dog service, general investigations section and air services combed the area. The suspect, still driving the taxi, was spotted on Comox Main Forest Service Road and the suspect fled from police. Police continued their search for the suspect into the night.
In the afternoon of May 4, with the ongoing investigation, police were able to affect an arrest of a 19-year-old Port Alberni man in the 3900 block of 8th Avenue. He will have a bail hearing this afternoon pending charge approval from Crown Council. Charges of Armed Robbery, Theft Over $5000 and Uttering Threats have been recommended.
Anyone with information on this is asked to call the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424 or the Alberni Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).