Snake stick-up: Calgary man arrested after bank robbery involving scaly threat

Calgary police have arrested a man they say was involved in two bank robberies, one of which involved a threat about a venomous snake.
Police were called to investigate after a man entered an RBC bank at 740 Eighth Ave. S.E. at about 11 a.m. on March 7.
They say the man was wearing a disguise and passed a note to an employee, demanding cash.
He fled the area with an undisclosed amount of money and bank staff called police.
"Upon arrival, police collected witness statements, including a description of the suspect. Our robbery unit detectives were able to quickly identify a possible location for the suspect at a nearby hotel," police said in a release.
By the time officers attended the hotel, they determined the suspect had already checked out, but found he had gotten a room at another hotel.
"The suspect was located and arrested at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino, located at 11500 35th St. S.E.," police said.
The suspect was released with conditions pending his next court date, but police say he entered another bank a few days later and threatened employees.
"At approximately 11:40 a.m., on Friday, March 10, 2023, the suspect entered a TD bank located at 3510 Garrison Gate S.W., and handed a note to an employee demanding cash while claiming he was in possession of a poisonous snake," police said in a statement.
Police say the suspect fled the scene in a taxi, but investigators were able to quickly locate and apprehend him.
Officials say the suspect did not have a snake after all.
Wyatt Robert Boden, 38, is charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of wearing a disguise with intent, taxi fraud and breaching a probation order.
"Our investigators and frontline patrol acted quickly and were able to connect various key pieces of evidence that ultimately resulted in the apprehension of the suspect in a timely manner," said Staff Sgt. Rod Harbidge of the CPS robbery unit.
Harbridge says while "it is frustrating" Boden reoffended so quickly after being released, police are grateful for the co-operation of witnesses, bank employees and the taxi service who all aided in his arrest.
Boden is set to appear in court on March 21.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump charged over classified documents in 1st federal indictment of an ex-president
Donald Trump said Thursday that he has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, igniting a federal prosecution that is arguably the most perilous of multiple legal threats against the former U.S. president as he seeks to reclaim the White House.

Freeland's budget bill passes House after Poilievre pledges to block it
The federal budget implementation bill passed the House of Commons on Thursday, after days of Conservative attempts to block it.
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
Special rapporteur David Johnston cuts ties with crisis management firm Navigator
Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference has ended ties with crisis communications firm Navigator, his office confirmed on Thursday.
How the lack of gravity in space impacts astronauts’ brain
What happens to the brain when you take gravity away? According to a new study looking at astronauts both before and after space travel, that experience causes physical changes that researchers believe requires at least three years between longer missions to recover from.
Are more interest rate hikes on the way? Here's what experts say
In the wake of the Bank of Canada’s unexpected rate hike, economists are pointing to further tightening in the near term.
'Tremendous amount we could be doing': Expert shares tips for preventing, adapting to wildfires
As wildfires rage across Canada in what’s being called an unprecedented season, one expert says there’s more that individuals and communities can do to adapt and prevent forest fires from causing widespread devastation.
10-year-old girl survives more than 24 hours alone in the rugged Cascade mountains after getting lost while out with her family
Rescuers in Washington state are praising the resourcefulness of a 10-year-old girl who survived on her own for more than 24 hours in the rugged terrain of the Cascade mountains after getting lost while out with her family.
Wildfire battles continue as heat, air quality alerts affect most of Canada
Air pollution from wildfires remained well above healthy levels across much of southern and northern Ontario and several communities in British Columbia and Alberta on Thursday.