Police arrest man in connection with 2 North York robberies

Toronto police have arrested a man in connection with two robbery investigations in the city’s northwest.

On Nov. 22, officers responded to reports of a robbery around 5:30 a.m., near Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue.

Police say a man approached a 60-year-old woman and asked her if she spoke Spanish before demanding she hand over her possessions.

The man told her he had a gun and then robbed the woman of some personal items.

Later the same day, around 4:50 p.m., officers responded to reports of another robbery near Jane and Wilson Avenue.

Police say a man approached a 24-year-old woman and again asked if she spoke Spanish.

He once again indicated he had a gun and threatened to shoot the woman if she did not surrender her belongings. She surrendered her purse and some personal items.

The man allegedly ordered the woman into a nearby vehicle before she fled the area.

Toronto resident Juan Pablo Ulloa Zegarra, 36, was taken into custody on Nov. 25 and is facing several charges:

• Two counts of robbery with an offensive weapon
• Two counts of use of imitation firearm during commission of an indicatable offence
• Two counts of possession of a weapon
• Two counts of fail to comply with a release order
• Uttering threats.

Zegarra appeared in court on the same day.