Bank robbery suspect in court, has charges updated

By Peggy Revell on April 19, 2018.

prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell

A Medicine Hat man arrested for multiple bank robberies had a brief court appearance Wednesday, as his defence counsel works toward seeking bail.

A replacement information was filed by the Crown against 31-year-old Ronald Big Bull, with updated charges of four counts of robbery, four counts of wearing a disguise and one count of uttering threats.

Big Bull was arrested on April 2 following an armed robbery of the TD Canada Trust bank on Strachan Road, where he allegedly produced a handgun and demanded cash. Civilians were able to give police details about the suspect’s vehicle, leading law enforcement to Big Bull. Upon his arrest, they linked him to earlier bank robberies at the CIBC bank on March 19, and ATB bank on Nov. 9, 2017, as well as calling in a bomb threat to the Servus Credit Union on Oct. 31, 2017.

Big Bull remains in custody at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre, with his lawyer adjourning his matter until April 23 as they negotiate with the Crown for his release.

Home invasion

A Medicine Hat man charged with a break and enter following a home invasion where dogs were pepper sprayed had a brief appearance Wednesday, with counsel adjourning to May 2.

Tyler Klutskow remains in custody at the remand centre, facing charges of housebreaking with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of a weapon dangerous, possession of a controlled substance and breach of probation.

The 35-year-old was arrested on the morning of April 5, when police responded to a residence in the 1100 block of Steel Street for a complaint of a break and enter in progress. The complainant, who was in the home at the time, called to advise that someone had entered the home and proceeded to pepper spray the homeowner’s dogs.

Upon arriving at the scene, police officers were confronted by a lone male who was brandishing a can of bear spray and a steel pipe. After negotiating with the male, he was taken into custody without further incident.

Break and enters

A Medicine Hat man facing 17 charges of breaking and entering and evading arrest had a brief appearance Wednesday, with counsel adjourning to April 30.

Randy Yaholnitsky, 29, remains in custody with his counsel stating that at the next appearance they expect to have an agreed statement of facts completed to be filed.

Yaholnitsky was arrested in early March by Redcliff RCMP, and faces 17 charges of breaking and entering and evading arrest, as well as counts of possessing stolen property, mischief, fleeing from police, breaking bail conditions, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving.

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