Teen arrested following armed robbery

We have charged a teenager who is believed to be responsible for an armed robbery, following the theft of several cell phones from a northeast retailer.

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m., it is believed a man entered a store in the 5000 block of Falsbridge Gate N.E., aimed a handgun at employees, and demanded cellphones.

The suspect took all the phones from a store safe, then fled the scene.

Store staff immediately called police, who deployed HAWCS and were able to locate the suspect outside a home in the 0-100 block of Martinvalley Place N.E.

Members observed the suspect going in and out of both the home and the garage. District 5 officers and members of the Canine Unit then arrested the suspect as he left the house.

A subsequent search of the home resulted in the recovery of 22 cellular phones, worth approximately $22,000, along with a pellet handgun, and clothes matching those worn by the suspect during the robbery. Photos of some of the seized items are available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.

Tamrat Mesfin BEYENE, 18, of Calgary, is charged with:

·        One count of using a firearm in the commission of an offence

·        One count of robbery with a firearm

·        Two counts of forcible confinement

·        One count of disguise with intent

·        One count of mischief over $5,000

·        One count of carrying a concealed weapon

·        Two counts of breaching probation

“By deploying HAWCS, we were able to safely determine where the suspect was and the best way to apprehend him,” says Sgt. Duncan Crosley of the Calgary Police Service. “Thanks to our teamwork in the air and on the ground, we were able to arrest someone within hours of a violent crime being committed.”

BEYENE’s next scheduled court date is Monday, March 9, 2026.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips

Case # CA26089634/61056