Police in Windsor, Ont. have charged a 30-year-old man in the city's first murder in more than two years.
Jesse Meloche appeared in a courtroom Friday to face first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of 40-year-old Lance Peter Smoke.
The death marks what police are calling Windsor's first homicide in 27 months.
Despite the latest murder, Windsor's record still stands in stark contrast to that of its neighbour Detroit, which has come to be known its high per-capita murder rate.
Sgt. Brett Corey of Windsor Police Services attributes part of the city's low homicide rate to the fatal shooting of an officer in 2006.
He said the death of Const. John Atkinson prompted police to reorganize their investigative team and establish a "Drugs, Intelligence and Guns" unit.
"We've seized quite a number of firearms, taken them off the street as well as large amounts of drugs at a street level," Corey told CTV News Channel on Saturday.
Even with the 27-month streak, Corey notes that Windsor still experiences violent crimes.
"We've had shootings, we've had stabbings on a fairly regular basis but our medical services personnel have been able to…work on these people and save their lives," he said in a phone interview.
In Smoke's case, it was too late. Police said his body was discovered with multiple stab wounds on Thursday outside a home on Albert Street.
"Everyone that works as a police officer in the city is well aware we've had this incredible streak for two years, but sooner or later we knew it was going to come to an end," he said.
The case will return to court next Wednesday, said defence lawyer Evan Weber.
With files from The Canadian Press
