Just after 1:00 pm on Wednesday June 5, 2019 police began receiving reports of a male armed with a machete inside a store on Portage Avenue.

Before police arrived the man fled the area and ran through downtown while holding the weapon. Several more people called police after witnessing the male running.

Officers located the suspect in the 200 block of Hargrave Street. Police ordered the male to drop the machete but he refused. A taser was fired at the suspect enabling officers to take the man into custody.

As officers investigated the incident they learned that the suspect had been approached by security at another business on Donald Street and asked to hand over the machete. He refused the request then threatened security officers and fled.

From Donald Street, the suspect made his way to another Portage Avenue store and while wearing a mask and armed with the machete he stole a bag and various items of clothing.

The suspect then went into a store in the 300 block of Portage and stole two bags before being confronted by security. Security were able to recover the items but moved away from the suspect when he pulled out the machete.

Leslie Boyd Cook, 24 is facing a number of weapon and robbery charges for his alleged involvement.

He was detained in custody.