Man arrested after three armed robberies in about 30 minutes

The RNC has made an arrest in connection with a string of robberies in the St. John's area.

Three gas bars in St. John's were robbed on February 25. At 4:25 am a gas bar was robbed on Stavanger Drive then another at 4:50 am on Topsail Road, and a third on Torbay Road at 5:00 am.

In all three instances, the man entered the businesses with a weapon and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. In one of the robberies the man also demanded cigarettes.

The suspect was described as a black man, approximately five feet and ten inches tall, wearing sunglasses, a dark coat, a hat and jeans. In some instances, the man was said to be wearing a surgical face mask.

As the robberies happened, the RNC began to make contact with 24-hour gas bars in the Northeast Avalon and conducted extra patrols. While attending a 24-hour gas bar on Portugal Cove Road to speak with staff, an officer noted a man matching the description of the suspect in the parking lot of the business.

The man was identified as 34-year-old Godfrey Orach. The accused was arrested without incident.

The accused was charged with four counts of robbery, four counts of possession of a weapon, and three counts of disguise with intent. He was also charged with several firearm offences and four counts of failure to comply with a release order.

The investigation is ongoing.