Brooks RCMP arrest 50-year-old after Walmart armed robbery, employee report

Brooks RCMP have arrested and charged Leonardo Garcia, 50, following an armed robbery that occurred at Walmart in that city. Mounties say the case moved quickly after a Walmart employee reported the incident to police on Feb. 11 and cooperated with investigators to identify the suspect.

Mounties say they received a report on Feb. 11 from an employee that was assisting Garcia activate a new cellphone a few days prior. The employee’s prior interaction with Garcia, helping to set up a phone, was key to investigators who linked the Feb. 11 incident to the man identified as a Brooks resident.

According to the report, Garcia displayed a weapon from inside his backpack and threatened to shoot the employee if the phone was not activated. Police allege the threat was made during a demand that staff activate a cellphone purchased in the store.

Further investigation revealed a similar incident involving Garcia had occurred a few days earlier but was not reported to RCMP. That earlier episode is being treated by investigators as related to the February 11 report, though no separate charges for that incident have been detailed publicly.

Police issued a “Be on the Lookout” high-priority alert to all local officers and partnering agencies in an attempt to locate Garica, who was found shortly after by a City of Brooks peace officer. Brooks RCMP took Garcia into custody shortly after the peace officer located him and processed the arrest locally.

Garcia was charged with robbery with a firearm; uttering threats; carrying a concealed weapon; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and failure to comply. He “was before the courts Tuesday,” court records cited in reporting show, but no additional public details about bail conditions or future court dates were provided.

Some regional copy referenced RCMP in Medicine Hat, but local reporting and the charging agency identify Brooks RCMP as the detaining and charging unit. Public reports do not specify the exact time of the Feb. 11 incident, the make or model of the firearm alleged, whether the weapon was discharged, or whether anyone sustained injuries.

The same local news feed that carried the Walmart item also ran an unrelated report that RCMP were called to a rollover collision in Duchess on Feb. 10 at approximately 11:30 p.m.; that report says a GMC Acadia rolled and damaged three parked vehicles, the driver failed roadside testing and faces charges including operation while impaired and failure to remain at the scene, and the driver was released on an appearance notice and transported for medical attention.