Winnipeg police arrested a suspect early this morning when he returned to apologize to a store clerk he had just attempted to rob.
It happened just before 2 a.m. at an Esso gas bar on Keewatin Street. Officers say a man had approached the counter, claimed to have a weapon and demanded money. No weapon was seen. The clerk refused to give him any money, and the suspect drove off in a vehicle.
Employees tell Global News the suspect made the robbery attempt through a drive through window.
Satnam Singh was working the night shift and on Wednesday still couldn’t believe the bizarre circumstances.
“His answer was, I have a gun, whatever you have in your cash register give me all of it,” Singh told Global News.
After 11 p.m., employees lock the doors and customers must come to a walk-up window.
That’s where the man was when he demanded money. Singh just slid the door shut and called police.
The man quickly fled in his vehicle.
“He covered his license plate with a piece of cloth so nobody can see his license plate number,” said Singh.
The clerk reported the incident and police officers arrived to investigate. While they were still on scene about 40 minutes later, the suspect “returned to apologize to the clerk at which time he was taken into custody without incident,” police said in a news release Wednesday.
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“This is definitely unique,” said Constable Eric Hofley at a news conference Wednesday, “It’s not like he didn’t see officers there when he returned.”
Just as police were about to leave, the suspect returned to the window.
“I open it,” said Singh, “looked at his face, that’s the same guy.” Singh couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “actually I apologize,” said the man to Singh, “sorry, I was in need of money that’s why I said you give me money, I’m sorry.”
The man had to walk right past a police car to get to the window. Officers arrested him on the spot and charged him with robbery.
Police later identified the suspect as Larrie Davies. Davies is known to police but does not have any previous robbery charges. Davies will remain innocent until proven guilty; but officers say if he were to be convicted, courts often take remorse into account when passing sentence.
Davies remains behind bars and will make his first court appearance on Thursday.
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