Calgary Police Services (CPS) have arrested and charged a man involved in the Nov. 6, 2013 kidnapping of an Airdrie No Frills store manager.
Hasson Wilson, 46, has been charged with robbery and kidnapping in relation to the incident at Rob’s No Frills on Yankee Valley Boulevard in Airdrie.
At the store’s closing time, culprits kidnapped the store manager and as a result were able to gain access to the store safe and empty it. The manager was subsequently released without being physically harmed.
Wilson is one of seven individuals who are facing 50 conspiracy-related charges.
Through the course of a five-month investigation by CPS known as Operation VOLCOM, it is alleged that a suspect orchestrated a series of takeover-style robberies at locations in Airdrie and Calgary.
It is believed that the suspect enlisted the help of a number of associates; in each of the robberies, two to four culprits, disguised and armed with guns, knives and other weapons would enter the premises at closing time, having knowledge of the employees working inside.
They would then take control of the employees, ordering them to the ground and searching their personal effects such as wallets and purses. They would gain access to information for the store safe or force an employee to open it.
As Operation VOLCOM continued, police learned as many as 10 more businesses were being targeted for similar style robberies. It is alleged that Wilson gained the cooperation of others in conspiring to commit future robberies at the Canyon Meadows Cinema, Real Canadian Wholesale Club N.E. and Rocky Mountain Pawn Ltd. Wilson is among a group of men facing charges that include conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and possession of firearms/dangerous weapons.
Through the course of Operation VOLCOM, Wilson was also charged with a house break-and-enter that occurred on Oct. 7, 2013 in the zero to 100 block of Allandale Close S.E. in Calgary where 17 firearms were stolen.
The Calgary Police Service is continuing to investigate each incident and anticipate further arrests and charges.
