A 62-year-old Calgary native faces charges in connection to a string of armed robberies targeting Alberta casinos.
On Feb. 15, officers responded to a call at ACE Casino Airport. A man claiming to possess a gun robbed the gaming facility of an undisclosed amount before fleeing in a vehicle.
There were no injuries.
Soon after, a police helicopter located the suspect vehicle outside of Deerfoot City Mall, where the perp changed clothes before driving off.
However, the coordinated clothing change didn’t fool officers. The suspect was apprehended at the 500 block of McKnight Boulevard N.E. after about 40 minutes on the lam.
ACE Casino bust ends run of violence against Alberta casinos
Finally, after five months of preying on Canada casinos in the Calgary area, Richard James Buckmire’s violent streak came to a close.
Specifically, Buckmire was the main suspect in series of holdups that first took aim at the Cash Casino located at 4040 Blackfoot Trail S.E., in September 2022.
And, he struck again in January 2023, this time at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino on 35th Street in Southeast Calgary.
For his involvement in the crimes, Buckmire’s charges include:
- Five counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited weapon; and
- Three counts of wearing a disguise with intent.
Further, Buckmire’s court hearings began on Feb. 23.
Stolen money returned to ACE
Afterwards, Staff Sergeant Rod Harbidge of the Calgary Police Service Robbery Unit made a statement. He noted that the arresting officers recovered the stolen funds and returned them to the casino.
“Thanks to the quick and collaborative response of our patrol members, HAWCS [Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety], Canine Unit, Robbery Unit, District 5, District 1 General Investigative Unit officers and other members, we were able to successfully and safely apprehend the suspect and return the stolen money to the casino,” Harbidge said.