Christian Gammon-Roy
Tribune
The North Bay Police Service (NBPS) has arrested a Sturgeon Falls man in connection with a brazen nighttime robbery at the North Bay casino. On August 13th, at approximately 12:15 a.m., a lone male entered the Cascades Casino on Pinewood Park Drive, North Bay, brandishing two weapons. He attended the gaming floor and proceeded to damaged property and then struck an employee several times, police revealed.
While police did not specify what the two weapons were, patrons inside the casino have indicated that the man appeared to carry a baseball bat and that they were quickly rushed into a “safe room” on the premises.
According to police, the man continued to do damage to the casino by smashing a slot machine and a computer, then demanded money from an employee. The employee complied, and as the man was leaving the casino, he was confronted by members of the North Bay Police Service. The accused ran back into the building and smashed a window in order to escape and was arrested immediately by police.
Paul Joseph Phillion, 44-years-old, from Sturgeon Falls was charged with robbery with violence; two counts of assault with a weapon; two counts of assault; mischief over $5,000; five counts of mischief under $5,000; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; possession of a prohibited weapon; carrying a concealed weapon; causing a disturbance; and two counts of failing to comply with a weapons prohibition order.
Phillion was transported to the North Bay Police Service, and a subsequent search revealed a set of brass knuckles. All the stolen Canadian currency was also recovered. He was held in custody, pending a bail hearing.
Staff of the Cascades Casino advised that they would not comment on the incident at this time.
