Two charged in robbery of Edmonton senior

Two young men are facing charges in connection with the beating and robbery of an 86-year-old man in Edmonton yesterday.

The Edmonton Police Service charged David Kendall Williams, 18, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, with robbery, aggravated assault, two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, theft under $5,000, break and enter to commit theft, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

Williams was charged with an additional charge of assaulting a peace officer related to his arrest.

The charges followed an incident in which Mike Madarash was assaulted by two males while working in the backyard of his home near 120 Avenue and 36 Street about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

They demanded money, struck Madarash with a weapon that may have been a collapsible baton and stole his wallet.

Police responded to the incident at 10:47 a.m., treated the victim and transported him to hospital. They later arrested the two males charged and a woman.

While the nature of the crime is certainly alarming, statistically seniors are less likely to become crime victims then the general population.

“It’s alarming, it’s rare,” said Insp. Joel Whittaker of the Edmonton Police about Tuesday’s violent robbery.

“I think we’re just as shocked as everybody else with this incident,” he told Edmonton Metro.