An online effort is underway to raise money for a rural property owner facing charges for allegedly firing shots during a theft on his farm. “He pulls into his yard and sees these people. Now what? You don’t know what they have, what they don’t have,” said neighbour Michael Pfrimmer. Last month RCMP said the 66-year-old man witnessed two stolen vehicles on his property through a security camera near Carman. Police say the man confronted four suspects who were allegedly stealing fuel. Mounties say he fired shots towards the suspect’s two vehicles. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, but so too was the property owner, who is facing multiple firearm-related charges. RCMP say a fourth suspect fled in one of the vehicles, which neighbour Michael Pfrimmer said ended up in a field near his business. Pfrimmer has set up a GoFundMe to help the man with his legal fees. “The GoFundMe isn’t going to cover all the court costs. I believe this will not be cheap.” He believes the shots hit the vehicles’ grills, with the purpose of disabling them, not to hurt anyone. Pfrimmer said his neighbour is no troublemaker. “He chose to call the police and keep the people there until the police showed up, he never pointed a gun at any individual.” At the time, the RCMP said Canadians may take reasonable steps to protect themselves or their property, but any force used must be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, including the nature of the threat. Pfrimmer said he too has had his rural property broken into. He hopes the charges his neighbour is facing will disappear. “The goal would be to help out as much as possible,” said Pfrimmer. “This is for rural Canada, it’s happening everywhere.”
