Posted:
Investigators in the General Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division have charged a man for a home invasion and a break and enter, both of which occurred in Halifax this week.
At 10:45 p.m. on December 20, police received a 911 call from a resident in the 3200 block of Pennington Street. An 85-year-old female resident was home alone when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and observed a male who immediately punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. The suspect then punched her again in the face, grabbed her by the arm and pulled the victim out of her residence. The suspect demanded money and stated he had a gun although none was seen. The victim began yelling and neighbours came to her assistance. The suspect fled the area. Numerous officers and K-9 attended but were not able to locate the suspect. The victim was treated by paramedics for some minor cuts and bruises.
At 10:42 p.m. on December 21, Halifax Regional Police responded to a break and enter in-progress in an apartment building on Leppert Street. An 86-year-old woman was in an apartment with her friend when a masked man entered, went directly to the bedroom and demanded money. The victim gave the man a sum of money and then he left the apartment. The victim and her friend were not physically injured during the incident and they did not know the suspect.
Officers obtained video surveillance of a man leaving the area heading westward and a K-9 unit was able to track a scent to the Mumford bus terminal. Through the course of the investigation, police were able to arrest a man matching the description of the suspect at 12:38 a.m. in the 2400 block of Gottingen Street. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and held in police custody overnight.
Forty-three-year-old Paul Alexander Sponagle of Halifax has been charged with three counts of robbery, two counts of break and enter, one count each of assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats and disguise with intent. Sponagle is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court this morning.
GO#16-188408 & 188913