WARMINGTON: Sleeping man who allegedly defended himself against intruder faces charges
The guy who allegedly broke in and was wanted by police on other matters is now in a Toronto Hospital with life threatening injuries. But the victim who was in slumber also faces serious charges
Article content
The man asleep in his own bed got a rude awakening in Lindsay Monday night.
But perhaps not as rude as the guy who allegedly broke in and now finds himself in hospital.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
WARMINGTON: Sleeping man who allegedly defended himself against intruder faces charges Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
It seems to me that if you break into someone’s home while they are sleeping in the wee hours of the morning whatever happens to you should be your own fault. But not in Lindsay where police have charged the man who allegedly defended himself.
The moral of this story might be don’t break into a home when a man capable of defending himself is asleep. Sometimes people learn the most important lessons the hard way. Perhaps this will open up the debate about protecting your castle laws once again.
It’s not every day a guy counting sheep at 3:20 a.m. has someone already wanted by police allegedly break into his apartment and it ends up him being charged. But this is Canada in 2025 where the alleged criminals have rights. Sure, the guy who allegedly broke in faces charges, too – and is in hospital after receiving some major injuries.
This all happened early Monday on Kent St. in downtown Lindsay.
“Officers arrived on scene and learned that the resident of the apartment had woke up to find another male intruder inside his apartment,” said a news release from Kawartha Lakes Police. “There was an altercation inside the apartment and the intruder received serious life-threatening injuries as a result of that altercation.”
Oops.
“The (alleged) intruder was transported to Ross Memorial Hospital and later air lifted to a Toronto hospital,” say police.
The 41-year-old Lindsay man who was already wanted by police at the time of the incident for un-related offences and has since been charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, break, enter and theft, mischief Under $5,000 and failing to comply with probation.
Kawartha Lakes Police Service added: “When released from hospital, he will be held in custody pending a bail hearing.” So ironic since this is another one of those alleged bail non compliance cases. You never want to see anybody hurt but it’s hard to feel sorry for this alleged intruder.
If the allegations are true, it’s one of those you-reap-what-you-sow moments.
“Everybody is talking about it,” said one woman at a nearby pub on Kent St. “Of course, you are going to defend yourself if someone sneaks into your apartment when you are asleep.”
Kawartha Lakes Police have not commented beyond the news release in which neither name was provided.
Recommended video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Ezra Levant of Rebel News has spoken with the man who is named Jeremy McDonald.
“A 44-year-old Lindsay man (homeowner) was charged with: aggravated assault and assault with a weapon” but was “released with a future court date,” said that release.
Perhaps in court there will be presented a fuller picture of why police decided to lay the charge on both the alleged intruder and on the break-in victim. Until then, people see it as just another example of letting criminals off easy while victims have to take it — even when they are in a dream state.
People are asking the same question. Why is he charged? He’s the victim. Why would he not inflict serious damage on someone surprising him like that?
How would he know if he was in grave danger? Why not cut him some slack? As Premier Doug Ford said this summer when bandits tried to steal his SUV from his driveway, it’s time Ontario and Canada talked about have Florida-like Castle Laws.
Police in the past have laid charges against people defending themselves with the argument that there is only so far they can go.
That’s happened in Peterborough when police there charged Indian international student Tejeshwar Kalia with serious offences after the store clerk chased and hit an alleged robber with a bat. It was allegedly the same bat used in the robbery attempt.
That case is still before the courts. A court will be asked to sort this one out, too.
It seems in Canadian justice, you might be better just to let the alleged intruder go about their business in your house and save the lawyer’s fees and possible prison time.
At least that’s how it was in Lindsay on this early Monday morning.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.