by Attempted Theft and Assault
In Winnipeg, Canada, 36-year-old Michael Prince, who has 17 prior convictions for property crimes, has filed a lawsuit against employees of Dino’s Grocery Mart. He claims that they brutally beat him after he attempted to steal a car from the store’s parking lot. This story demonstrates how criminal actions often have unforeseen consequences.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on February 26, 2024, when Prince entered the store and stole a jacket containing a wallet and a key fob. Thirty minutes later, he returned to steal the car but found it blocked by other vehicles. When he got into the car, the alarm went off, and the store employees, according to Prince, began to beat him.
He suffers from constant fear, anxiety, apathy, depression, and feelings of worthlessness as a result of the defendants’ actions.
Consequences and Lawsuit
Prince claims that as a result of the assault, he suffered permanent hearing and vision loss, and suffers from insomnia, panic attacks, migraines, and cranial nerve damage. In the lawsuit, he is seeking compensation for loss of earning capacity and “loss of joy of life.” His lawyer argues that the force used by the employees far exceeded what was necessary for apprehension.
Criminal Past
Michael Prince has a long history of offenses, including the theft of $800 worth of e-cigarettes and taking two large televisions out of a store. He also claimed to have led a criminal group and stolen over $1 million worth of goods over nine years.
This situation highlights the complexity of citizens using force to counter crimes, especially when individuals with criminal pasts are involved. Legal systems often face challenges in defining the limits of permissible self-defense and citizen’s arrest, which can have serious consequences for all parties. Such cases also raise questions about recidivism and the effectiveness of previous judicial decisions.
