Halifax police arrest suspect who allegedly hit Canadian Tire staff member with SUV

A Halifax Regional Police shoulder badge is pictured. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)

Two men are facing multiple robbery and assault charges after one of them allegedly threatened staff at a Canadian Tire with a knife and the other allegedly hit a staff member with an SUV, according to Halifax police.

Officers responded to a reported robbery at the Canadian Tire on Lemlair Row in Dartmouth around 3:50 p.m. on Sunday. A man allegedly stole merchandise and threatened staff with a knife before an off-duty officer restrained him, according to a news release from Halifax Regional Police.

“While the officer was restraining the suspect, a white SUV drove dangerously towards the off-duty officer and staff,” the release reads. “The SUV struck one of the staff and then circled the parking lot before driving toward them again.”

Police say the driver of the SUV got out of the vehicle and tried to pull the officer off the other suspect. They were unsuccessful and fled the scene in the vehicle after driving towards the officer again.

Police tracked down an SUV matching the one seen at the incident at a Ferguson Road residence and arrested a man around 6:40 p.m. that day.

Devin Osmond, 43, is facing charges of:

• assault a peace officer with a weapon
• robbery
• assault with a weapon
• possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace
• carrying a concealed weapon
• resisting arrest

Matthew MacKinnon, 33, was charged with:

• assaulting a peace officer
• assault causing bodily harm
• robbery
• operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm
• operation of a conveyance dangerous to the public

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