Police presence in North Kentville related to attempted armed robbery of Canning credit union
Kirk Starratt (kirk.starratt@kingscountynews.ca)
Published: Jun 19 at 3:25 p.m.
Updated: Jun 19 at 4:05 p.m.
More than a dozen police officers were spotted in North Kentville searching the ditches near the intersection of Church Street and Highway 341 over the noon hour June 19. A special tactical operations unit was also parked further up the road, as were a number of unmanned vehicles. - Aimee Alden
Officers seen scouring ditches
KENTVILLE, N.S. —
Police continue to investigate following an attempted armed robbery last week at the Valley Credit Union in Canning.
Around noon on June 19, there was a police presence in the vicinity of the intersection of Church Street and Highway 341 in North Kentville. There were several police cruisers there and officers were seen scouring the ditches. There was also a special tactical operations unit parked in the vicinity.
Const. Jeff Wilson of the Kings District RCMP confirmed that the activity related to the attempted armed robbery of the credit union on June 14.
"Without compromising any investigation, I can tell you that there was an investigation going on in that area this morning with regard to the armed robbery in Canning," Wilson said.
The accused, 39-year-old Leif Spilchen of Centreville, made a second court appearance on June 18. He consented to being remanded in custody until July 2 for a bail hearing.
Spilchen faces a dozen charges, including using a restricted firearm, a revolver, in robbing the credit union; having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, using a firearm while committing the indictable offence of robbery, intimidation through threats of violence, pointing a firearm at an individual, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possessing a firearm while prohibited, failing to stop his vehicle as soon as was reasonable in the circumstances while being pursued by police, driving while prohibited and failing to comply with probation. Charges against Spilchen have not been proven in court.
According to a news release from the RCMP, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on June 14, it was reported that a man had entered the credit union in Canning carrying a gun. Shots were fired but no one was injured. The suspect fled the scene.
Witnesses provided police with a description of the suspect and vehicle. Police located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the suspect kept going. A short time later, officers with the Kings District RCMP located the suspect outside of a home on Highway 359 in Centreville, where the suspect, Spilchen, was arrested without incident.
Kirk.starratt@kingscountynews.ca
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