A male suspect threatened a female clerk at the Quarterway Liquor Store with a gun, prior to throwing her to the ground. The assailant jumped into the passenger seat of a silver four-door Toyota Sedan, which police said took off northbound on Bowen Rd. The brazen crime happened Wednesday, Jan 15 at 3:40 p.m. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)
brazen crime

Female clerk assaulted by armed man during day-time robbery attempt in Nanaimo

Jan 16, 2020 | 10:45 PM

NANAIMO — A liquor store clerk was faced with a gun and thrown to the floor during the attempted armed robbery.

The brazen attempt happened on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 3:40 p.m. after a lone male suspect walked into the Quarterway Liquor Store in Nanaimo on Bowen Rd.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said the female store clerk was walking through the aisles when the suspect suddenly threatened her with a gun and then threw her to the ground.

She got up and ran to the neighbouring pub to alert staff, O’Brien said.

“During that time the suspect left and got into a four-door silver Toyota and was last seeing going northbound on Bowen Rd.” O’Brien said. “The clerk wasn’t injured, but shaken.”

O’Brien said the victim provided an excellent suspect description.

  • Indigenous male in mid 20’s
  • 5’8” with a slim build
  • Star-shaped tattoo behind right ear
  • Black hoodie, grey sweatpants and had multi-colored kids packpack

It’s not known if the gun is real and O’Brien said it doesn’t appear anything was stolen during the incident.

O’Brien said the surveillance footage didn’t offer a great caption of the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes