Court appearance for man arrested after allegedly robbing, pepper-spraying victim

By Peggy Revell on August 16, 2017.

Medicine Hat News

A 26-year-old man arrested Sunday over a robbery in the parking lot at the hospital had a brief first court appearance Tuesday.

Appearing by CCTV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre, Jesse Leckner adjourned his matters to Aug. 22, as he looks to find legal counsel before seeking bail.

Medicine Hat police report that on Aug. 13 at approximately 4:30 p.m., a 20-year-old Calgary man was seated in a parked vehicle in the southeast parking lot of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. He was approached by a man asking to sit inside the vehicle, and the driver allowed him into the vehicle as they had been discussing the fact that the vehicle had a “for sale” sign.

The driver attempted to end the conversation, at which point the man allegedly attempted to take the keys from the driver. The driver resisted, and was sprayed with bearspray.

The man fled with the driver’s backpack, which contained an iPad.

Police were able to use a cellphone app to locate the iPad and the man on the Southeast Hill.

Leckner, who is of no fixed address, faces charges of robbery, possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property and threats to cause death.