Lethbridge police are still looking for a suspect in a kidnapping and robbery case last year. After following various leads, police have yet to lay charges and say they are sharing new information in hopes it will help progress the investigation.
On April 23. 2023, around 11:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a break and enter at a home along the 2000 block of South Parkside Drive South.
“A 72-year-old female reported that an unknown male rang her doorbell, identified himself as a police officer and as she proceeded to unlock her door, forced his way inside, knocking her backwards and proceeding to push her to the ground,” reads a news release from the Lethbridge Police Service. “She was instructed to stay down and the subject used one of her scarves to blindfold her. The male demanded cash and when none was immediately available, he took her bank cards from her wallet, forced her into her vehicle and made her drive to the bank, sitting in the backseat behind her and tilting the rear view mirror to hide his identity.”
The woman took out cash from the ATB Financial along the 600 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South and gave it to the suspect. She then drove home with him still in the vehicle.
“The victim was not harmed, but the male threatened to hurt her or her family if she called police,” LPS says. “Before leaving, the male made an odd request, asking the victim for paprika and then chili powder, the latter of which she provided. While it remains unknown why the male wanted the spice powder, it was found sprinkled along the driveway.”
The man is described as about 5’9” tall, average or muscular build, in his late 20s or 30s, wearing all black clothing, gloves and a face covering.
Police ask anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact them or Crime Stoppers.