People living in the Carman area are questioning why a rural property owner is in trouble with the law after he was the victim of an alleged theft. RCMP said in a statement that on Aug. 15, a property owner was alerted by a motion-activated camera to four people stealing fuel. The 66-year-old man went to the scene in the RM of Dufferin with a firearm and confronted the group. Shots were fired toward the suspects’ vehicles, RCMP said. Three of the four suspects remained at the scene until officers arrived. They were charged with multiple offences, including one person who was charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The property owner was arrested and charged with six firearms offences. “When the members were on scene and did the investigation they determined that there was and offence committed by the property owner,” said RCMP Sgt. Darcy Thiessen Wednesday. Carman resident George Hoochuk and others in town CTV News spoke to off-camera said they can’t believe the owner was arrested. “I don’t believe the property owner should be charged,” Hoochuk said. Hoochuk said the owner was likely defending his property. “Possibly even himself, because you don’t know, these fellas may have a handgun, they may have or some other item, or knives,” Hoochuk said. RM of Dufferin Reeve Cor Lodder said property crime has been an issue over the last few years. While not on the official agenda, he said this incident was discussed by council members during their regular meeting Tuesday evening. “We’re, of course, disappointed by it and frustrated with it. And all we can do at this point is continue to support our ratepayers, support our residents,” Lodder said. Lodder said the RM has been in contact with RCMP and is awaiting a formal response. “We don’t want to place blame or point fingers or show, ‘Why can’t we protect our own properties?’ We all have to follow the law,” he said. RCMP said Canadians may take reasonable steps to protect themselves or their property, but any force used must be reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances, including the nature of the threat. “In this case there was a firearm involved, and when firearms are involved, it just heightens everything,” Sgt. Thiessen said. Premier Wab Kinew backed the RCMP’s handling of the case Tuesday. “We can’t have people being judge, jury and potentially executioner, allegedly,” Kinew said. “Though I understand the frustration with crime, absolutely.”
