Skip to content

Armed robbery, break and enter leaves community shaken

Residents know it as the community store, but what is left of the Ardmore M&M Mini Mart is shaken staff and plywood walls. On June 13, owners Wade and Liz Magistad woke to a phone call they hoped they would never receive.

Residents know it as the community store, but what is left of the Ardmore M&M Mini Mart is shaken staff and plywood walls.

On June 13, owners Wade and Liz Magistad woke to a phone call they hoped they would never receive.

Two suspects in a truck had rammed their store to gain entrance and steal jerky, cigarettes, and candy.

Just down the street, a store employee watched the scene unfold. She witnessed two people exit the vehicle, both carrying guns. She turned and ran back to her home, not too far from the store, and called 911.

Liz's voice cracked as she described what she saw when she pulled up the camera footage on her phone.

"The first thing that I saw was stuff all over the floor."

Liz and her husband got into their vehicle, and made the 30-minute drive to their store.

"The whole front of the store was caved in," she recalled. "I was just horrified."

Earlier that morning, at about 3:00 a.m., police were called to an armed robbery in Bonnyville. Someone in a vehicle had been held at gunpoint by two suspects who were trying to steal their car. The victim was able to drive away unharmed, but the crime spree didn't end there.

Cold Lake RCMP received a call later that morning about a truck ramming the M&M Mini Mart until they gained access into the store through the damaged doorway.

A description of the vehicle and the suspects was fanned out to local RCMP detachments. The vehicle was spotted on Highway 659 by Cold Lake First Nations.

The suspects, identified as Kelly Joseph Janvier, 42, and his 17-year-old accomplice continued to flee from police. A short pursuit ensued before the vehicle stopped on Elizabeth Métis Settlement. Both Janvier and the young female fled on foot into the woods.

"Members immediately were on scene from Bonnyville and Cold Lake, and also our police dog service from St. Paul," said Cpl. Ron Bumbry, RCMP media relations for the northeast district.

After containing the scene, both individuals were arrested without incident.

Janvier is well-known to police. He has been charged with flight from police, obstruction of a police officer, possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000, break and enter with intent, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and failing to comply with a recognizance. He has also been charged with Traffic Safety Act offences.

He will remain in police custody until his first court appearance in the Cold Lake Provincial Courthouse on June 28.

The 17-year-old, who can't be identified under the Young Offenders Act was charged with flight from police, obstruction of a police officer, possession of stolen property over $5,000, break and enter with intent, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. She will also remain in custody until her court appearance on June 28 in the Cold Lake Provincial Courthouse.

Bumbry described this as an isolated incident.

However, what the suspects made away with could never equate to the physical and emotional damage they left behind.

Liz estimated over $2,500 in items were stolen from the M&M Mini Mart, but the cost of repairs to their building will be extensive, with over $15,000 in damage.

"This not only impacts us, it impacts the whole community," Liz said. "As the owner, you feel very violated. It made me very angry that they brought weapons. I don't know what their intent was, and it worries our whole staff."

This isn't the first time the small store has fallen victim. Out of the six years the Magistads have owned the M&M Mini Mart, this is the third incident. In 2015, just shortly after the big lottery win from their store, a man broke in with an axe, stealing lottery tickets.

"We're there to serve the community... when people do this, it sets you back," she exclaimed.

The Bonnyville RCMP and Cold Lake General Investigation Section (GIS) continue to investigate the incidents. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the Bonnyville RCMP at 780-343-7200, or their local detachment.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers.

"It leaves our staff scared, it leaves us scared, and it leaves our community scared," said Liz about the impact of the incident, adding they will hold their heads high and endure.

"We carry on and persevere, because you have to."

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks