No one ever would have thought that Meghan Darcy Melnyk, the former student body president of Mount Royal University would have a run-in with the law.
When she resigned from her student government position last month, she told peers that she was just “burnt out.” But to everyone’s surprise, last week, she was accused in the armed robbery of a Calgary credit union.
The 27-year-old communications major and former self-designated, “dork” was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with with robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon and committing an indictable offense while disguised. Calgary police detective Stu Keown told ABC News that Melnyk, disguising herself with makeup, sunglasses and a stocking cap, took an undisclosed amount of cash after informing a teller that she had a weapon. According to Keown, Melnyk made her getaway in a PT Cruiser with her German shepherd. A credit union employee wrote down her license plate, and a police helicopter spotted her car a short time later. Police caught up with Melnyk in traffic. In her car, police discovered a knife they believe was used in the robbery.
Police said Melnyk already had a criminal record. She had outstanding arrest warrants for fraud, forgery and violating probation after being found in possession of a stolen car. Melnyk was sentenced to probation for possession of a stolen SUV in 2008, and pleaded guilty in 2010 to falsely applying for social insurance numbers (or Canadian social security).
Detective Stu Keown said he had no idea why she robbed the credit union. “From our point of view, it’s unusual,” Keown said. “On the one hand, there seemed to be a fairly high degree of planning here but on the other hand, frankly, the arrest was very quick. I can say that all of the money that was stolen in the robbery was recovered.”Melnyk’s former colleagues on the students’ association seem stunned yet sympathetic. Vice president Michelle Dennis told ABC News, “We are as shocked as everyone else. We certainly have no idea why she chose to act in this way. We do hope that she gets the help and support that she needs.”
The community at Mount Royal University was taken completely off guard with the news about Melnyk.
“I think the shockwaves reverberate through the entire university and the student body,” Mount Royal University communications professor David Taras told the Calgary Herald. “I’m sure SAMRU is just scratching their heads. This is jaw-dropping news.”