Alleged Ontario home intruder was armed with crossbow, court documents reveal

City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service

The man who allegedly broke into a Lindsay, Ont., home earlier this month was armed with a crossbow, new court documents show.

Kawartha Lakes police charged Michael Kyle Breen on Aug. 18 after he allegedly entered Jeremy McDonald’s residence at approximately 3 a.m. that morning.

McDonald, 44, was sleeping when he woke up to find Breen, 41, in his Kent Street apartment, police said in a statement at the time.

Investigators say an altercation ensued and Breen sustained serious life-threatening injuries as a result.

McDonald used a knife during the altercation, CTV News previously reported. Breen was airlifted to a Toronto hospital with serious injuries.

Breen was charged with possession of a weapon, breaking and entering, as well as theft.

The incident sparked debates about self defence and use of force as McDonald was also charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon following the altercation that ensued in his home.

The court documents, obtained by CTV News Toronto on Thursday, show that Breen was on probation at the time of the alleged break-in. Breen, of no fixed address, has a lengthy criminal record and there was a warrant out for his arrest at the time of this incident.

Politicians weigh in

Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke out about the incident at an unrelated news conference last week, saying that “something is broken” when you “can’t protect your family.”

“I know someone breaks into my house, or someone else’s, you’re going to fight, for your life,” Ford said during an unrelated news conference.

“You’re going to use any force you possibly can, to protect your family. I’m telling you, I know everyone would.”

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also offered his thoughts on the situation last week saying that: “If someone breaks in, you deserve the right to defend your loved ones and your property - full stop.”

READ MORE: ‘No absolute right to self-defence’: What to know about defending yourself from intruders in wake of Ont. man being charged

In a news release issued two days after the incident, Kawartha police defended the charges amidst the “emotional responses” they triggered.

“Under Canadian law, individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property,” Police Chief Kirk Robertson said. “However, it is important to understand that these rights are not unlimited in Canada. The law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.”

Legal experts who previously spoke to CTV News explained that while self defence laws do exist in Canada, it will be up to the court to determine if the force used in this situation was justified or excessive.

With files from CTV News’ Heather Wright