Calgary police arrest 11-year-old for allegedly robbing bus driver

A suspect accused of holding up a Transit bus driver with a knife Tuesday night, among other incidents, is just 11 years old, police say.

Calgary police say an 11-year-old boy has been arrested after he allegedly held up a bus driver with a knife.

Police say a bus driver parked at Erlton Station and was approached by a youth at 11:45 p.m. on July 29.

The suspect was allegedly armed with a knife and demanded the driver’s phone.

• Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Police said the driver was able to “de-escalate the situation” and the suspect left a short time later with an undisclosed amount of money.

The youth joined a group of teens waiting outside the bus, who all left the scene.

The driver called police, who located the group at 25 Street S.W. and Macleod Trail South.

The youths were arrested without incident.

Police say the group is believed to be involved in a liquor store robbery earlier that evening in the 500 block of 11 Avenue S.W.

In that incident, police said a group of teens ran into the store and stole multiple bottles of liquor valued at more than $200.

Three youths were arrested, including the 11-year-old believed to be responsible for the incident with the bus driver.

A 14-year-old girl was charged with shoplifting and three counts of failing to comply with a release order.

Charges are pending against a 16-year-old girl in connection with the liquor store theft.

All of the youth suspects are not being named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Transit union reacts

Mike Mahar, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583, which represents Calgary Transit officers, said the incident is both “bizarre” and “horrific” regardless of the suspect’s age.

“The fact that it’s a deadly weapon that this youth is using just shows the condition of public transit, where somebody at this age already thinks this is an appropriate way to deal with things,” he said.

“Whether you’re 11 or 80, if you’re harming somebody at work, and the damage that can cause to their mental health and their physical health, it’s horrific.”

Mahar said he spoke with the bus operator involved and commended their ability to stay calm and de-escalate the situation.

“One of the very first things that popped in my head was the de-escalation,” Mahar said. “This operator made all the right choices to maintain the safest position they could be in, knowing this assailant was armed and anything could go wrong. Kudos to that operator.”

Mahar said support has been offered to the driver, who planned to return to work the next day, but was urged to take a break if they felt unsafe.

Mahar says this is part of a larger public safety concern.

“This assailant targeted someone alone and vulnerable. It’s a crime of opportunity.

“They may be young, but they’re not innocent. What about that person who went to work yesterday to provide for their family? Their safety matters too.”

Mahar says incidents like this underline the need for broader action on transit safety.

“We want an environment where an 11-year-old doesn’t think, ‘I need some money or a phone, I’ll just approach somebody on public transit.’ That thought should never even cross their mind,” he said.

The owners of the liquor store involved in the earlier robbery declined to comment to CTV News.