Police are attempting to identify the remaining two suspects and a suspect vehicle in connection with an armed robbery at a southeast business in January 2017.

According to investigators, three masked men armed with firearms and a machete stormed Hempisphere, in the 5300 block of 17 Avenue S.E., in the evening hours of Friday, January 20, 2017.

“I was standing at the cash register waiting to cash out as it was around five minutes to close,” said Monique, the former manager of the store. “Three men walked into the store, I looked up briefly said hello and looked back down. By the time that I had said that I looked up and saw that something was a little off and they had their faces covered.”

“He put the gun in my face, went behind me, put his arm around my neck and then put the gun on the side of my head.”

The other suspects demanded another employee give them keys to the business’ safe.“They did get into the safe," said Monique. "They took what was there.”

 

The suspects grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise before ripping the store’s phone cords from the wall. Police believe the suspects fled the area in a black sedan.

One of the three suspects was identified and questioned before being released from custody. “The person we arrested is still a subject of interest in the investigation,” said Staff Sergeant Graeme Smiliey of the CPS district support unit. “The investigation has not evolved to such a point where we can lay charges at this time.”

According to Smiley, the person of interest has been uncooperative with the investigation.

Police have released surveillance footage of the robbery and are asking for help from the public with the ongoing investigation. “The quality of the closed circuit television in this case is quite good and it’s an opportunity for us, an investigative opportunity, to see if the public can assist us,” said Smiley.

Monique says she has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and left her job at Hempisphere after she struggled to fulfill her day-to-day duties.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery or the identities of the offenders is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers.