Cannabis store employee sexually assaulted during robbery

City police have a suspect in custody after a man locked himself inside a cannabis store in the West Alexander neighbourhood Tuesday night and sexually assaulted an employee before robbing the business.

The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m., when a man entered the store, located on the 100 block of Isabel Street. The man waited for another customer to leave, and then locked the door behind them — isolating the lone female employee, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Wednesday.

Investigators learned the suspect then went behind the counter and sexually assaulted the 24-year-old woman. She pushed the man away and fled before contacting police. The victim was not injured, the release said.

The man left on foot with an unknown quantity of cannabis products before police arrived. Officers located the suspect on the 800 block of Main Street shortly before 1 a.m., placing him under arrest without incident, WPS said.

A 33-year-old man is charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement and theft under $5,000. He was also wanted on a warrant for failing to comply with a probation order.

He was released on an undertaking.