Charges laid after downtown robbery

Police initially told CHAT News the man was hit in the head and thrown into a nearby dumpster. Inspector Joe West later clarified, saying the man had been on his phone near a dumpster.

“I’m not sure if it was a crime of opportunity or targeted sort of attack, we’re still investigating that part,” West said. “Certainly it was violent and thankfully nobody was seriously injured.”

The 47-year-old fled with the man’s cellphone. Two witnesses to the incident were able to point police in the right direction, and the man was arrested in a multi-unit residence near the scene.

“It is an isolated event and we don’t have those occur with any sort of frequency or pattern in the downtown area so I believe it’s still a very safe place to be,” West added.

“It’s terrible, obviously, but it doesn’t impact the comfort and the security in the safety I feel of just living and being in our city,” said Jace Anderson, executive director with Tourism Medicine Hat.

Anderson works hard to promote the city and the downtown and said visitors to our city usually leave with a very different impression.

“Medicine Hat is a remarkable place to live, a remarkable place to be and a fantastic place to visit as well,” he said. “Downtown is really central to that because it’s the heart of where a lot of our neighbourhoods and communities come together.”

“We just did a walk around the downtown and it felt very safe,” said visitor Lonna Hoggan. “It’s pretty.”

“I’ve definitely heard about the culinary experiences, the new coffee scene that’s happening,” said Michele Kerr, who was visiting Medicine Hat for the first time.

Gil Scott, 47, is now facing charges including robbery, possession of stolen property, and possession of a weapon, believed to be a carpet knife.

Scott remains in custody and he will be making his next appearance in court on September 26.

by James Wood & Ashley Wiebe

Charges laid after downtown robbery

Our Community