Cape Breton police charge 20-year-old man in NSLC robbery

The NSLC is seen on Quinpool Road in Halifax on April 30, 2020.

A 20-year-old from Sydney Mines, N.S., is facing charges in relation to a robbery in New Waterford, N.S., Thursday night.

Staff at a Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) store on Plummer Avenue told police a man discharged bear spray when security tried to stop him from leaving with bottles of liquor he didn’t pay for.

Staff also reported the man displayed a knife before running from the area.

Cape Breton Regional Police were called to the store around 8:15 p.m.

“Additional responding officers patrolled the area; with video surveillance and a K9 Team track, police were able to identify and locate the suspect at a residence on Wilson Avenue, where he was arrested and officers seized stolen liquor and a knife,” reads a news release from Cape Breton police.

Fire services also attended the store to help staff affected by the bear spray. Forensic identification officers processed the scene.

According to police, Lucas Justin Ronald Roach is facing charges of:

• robbery
• uttering threats
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• assault with a weapon
• obstructing a peace officer
• four breaches of previous court-ordered conditions.

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