Suspect in personal robbery, assault at Elmvale shopping centre sought by police

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service says the investigation is ongoing into a personal robbery that turned into an assault in Elmvale Acres Shopping Centre earlier this month.

On March 6, around 4:50 p.m., the suspect attempted to steal an elderly woman’s purse at the shopping centre in the 1900 block of St. Laurent Boulevard, according to police. The suspect allegedly assaulted the woman, as he was trying to steal the purse. Then, he took off with the purse on an OC Transpo bus that was heading toward Industrial Avenue.

Police add that the woman’s “credit card was later used fraudulently at a nearby store.”

Police released a suspect description and a photo Wednesday. On Thursday, police said the suspect has been identified as a young person and asked the media to remove the youth’s photo from their social media and online postings.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, extension 5116 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.