A man from whom police allegedly seized explosives in a would-be robbery at a Vancouver high-end clothing store faces a bail hearing Jan. 8.
Douglas Gordon Ewing, 67, is charged with robbery, uttering threats to cause death, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Ewing appeared before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Donna Senniw on Jan. 3. He attended court via video from North Fraser Pretrial Centre.
Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers responded to Holt Renfrew just before noon on Dec. 30 after 911 callers reported someone had entered the store, threatened to shoot staff and attempted to steal merchandise.
Officers arrested the suspect outside the store, with help from a witness.
“Following the arrest, police seized two improvised explosive devices, a firearm, and other weapons,” police said in a news release. “The explosive devices were later rendered safe by explosive technicians from VPD’s Emergency Response Section.”
Ewing appeared to have two black eyes as he appeared on the screen.
He told Senniw “he was beaten badly by security.”
Duty counsel lawyer Jacqueline Percival told Senniw that Ewing’s lawyer, Tony Lagemaat, was seeking an adjournment to Jan. 8.
“Are you OK with that?” Senniw asked Ewing.
“I’ve got no choice with that,” Ewing said. “I’m in jail.”
Ewing remains in custody.
