Pincher Creek man in standoff faces new charges

Pincher Creek RCMP say a 53-year-old man is facing numerous charges in connection with an armed robbery after an arrest at a home in Coleman on Saturday.

Mounties say Dewey Todd Starzyk was arrested Saturday after RCMP received information about an incident at the beginning of February.

Starzyk is charged with robbery with a firearm, careless use of a firearm, carrying a weapon while committing an offence, uttering death threats and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, in addition to three charges for failing to comply with his conditions.

Cpl. Jeff Feist said the charges relate to an incident in Pincher Creek the first week of February, days before a standoff with RCMP on Feb. 8.

“Somebody came forth that alleged that this occurred previous to the armed standoff,” said Feist.

Starzyk was charged in connection with the standoff with careless use of a firearm and failing to comply with police, after Mounties were called after reports of gunfire. Officers allege the man came out of his home and fired a shot.

The RCMP’s Emergency Response Team was called in to help arrest the suspect.

Starzyk was released on bail with conditions on Feb. 15. He has now been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday on the new charges.