Ottawa man charged after Rideau Street convenience store robbery, police say

A 34-year-old man has been charged after a robbery at a convenience store in downtown Ottawa, the Ottawa Police Service said.

Police say the incident began on the morning of July 28, 2026, at roughly 7:29 a.m., when a lone man entered a convenience store in the 100 block of Rideau Street.

According to police, the man demanded merchandise from the store. When staff refused his demands, he assaulted an employee before leaving with items he had not paid for.

Patrol officers found the suspect a short distance away and took him into custody without incident, according to the Ottawa Police Service.

David Charette, 34, of Ottawa, has been charged in connection with the robbery. He was held in custody after his arrest and was scheduled to appear in court on the morning of July 29, according to the Ottawa Police Service.

Investigation handled by Robbery Unit

The case was investigated by the Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit. Police have not released the name of the store or further details about the charges, and no additional information about the injured employee's condition was included in the release.

Rideau Street is one of Ottawa's busiest commercial corridors, with the 100 block sitting steps from the Rideau Centre and the ByWard Market area. The robbery occurred in the early morning, before many downtown storefronts had opened for the day.

Residents who may have information or security camera footage that could assist investigations are encouraged to get in touch with police. The Ottawa Police Service can be reached at 613-236-1222 for non-emergency calls.

Police point to public data tools

The Ottawa Police Service also highlighted two public-facing tools in its release.

Through the Community Safety Data portal at data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download and interact with data released by the police service, according to the Ottawa Police Service.

Police are also encouraging residents to register their information and security camera locations at CAMSafe.ca, a program the service says helps support investigations and make communities safer.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Ottawa Police Service. No further details about the case were available as of publication.