Suspect faces charges in armed robbery spree

Man allegedly held up nine businesses, fired weapon twice in two-month span

A 22-year-old Regina man has been charged with a string of armed robberies, including at least one in which a shot was fired into the floor at a local business.

During a two-month span, Trenton Laliberty allegedly held up nine businesses, mostly restaurants or lounges in the city’s east end, all while wearing a disguise.

He is accused of discharging a firearm twice during the robberies.

Laliberty made a first appearance Thursday in Regina Provincial court on nine counts of armed robbery with a firearm, 10 counts of wearing a disguise with intent, robbery, two counts of assault with a weapon, nine counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, two counts of discharging a firearm in a reckless manner and 10 counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

The Crown opposed his release and his charges were set over to Oct. 19.

According to police, the first in what grew to a spree of robberies began at a business on the 100 block of University Park Drive the night of March 26.

A lone man entered and threatened an employee with a weapon before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured.

That was followed April 8 with a robbery at a business on the 4100 block of 5th Avenue in the early morning.

Two days later, police responded to an armed robbery at a business on the 1100 block of Victoria Avenue East where a man — described as wearing a black hoodie, black toque, grey pants and a black balaclava covering his face — entered with a firearm and demanded an amount of money.

About 24 hours later, police officers rushed to a restaurant on the 400 block of Albert Street for the report of a robbery. An armed man entered and fled with cash. The firearm was described as a silver and black handgun. Again, no one was injured.

On the morning of April 14, a robber fired a firearm while fleeing a business on the 1600 block of 9th Avenue East.

The next night, another armed robbery followed at a business on the 2100 block of Victoria Avenue East.

Police responded to another armed robbery on April 26 at a business on the 900 block of Arcola Avenue East, where a man with his face covered, who was believed to have a firearm, demanded and received cash from staff. The bandit fled on a bicycle.

The next robbery was in the early morning of May 14, on the 500 block of North Albert Street. A witness actually called the business to warn someone of a masked man about to enter — to no avail. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Later that same day, the last robbery occurred at a business in the 2000 block of Park Street. Again, the suspect had his face covered. Witnesses describe the robber firing a round into the floor but no one was injured. He received an undisclosed amount of cash before pedalling off on a bicycle.

Investigation into the incidents led police to suspect Laliberty, who was arrested Wednesday.