Man sues grocery store over ‘egregious assault’ after he attempted to steal car

A man who claims he was beaten up after trying to steal a car outside a Winnipeg grocery store is now suing the staff there, alleging serious injuries.

A man who claims he was beaten up after trying to steal a car at a Winnipeg grocery store is now suing staff, alleging he was left with skull fractures and now suffers from permanent hearing and vision impairment.

Michael Prince, 36, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages against Dino’s Food Mart, “supervisor and/or owner/operator” Rajan Varma and eight unnamed employees, according to a statement of claim filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on Aug. 12.

“Prince says that the amount of force used against him was far in excess of what was necessary to execute a citizen’s arrest or detain him pending the arrival of law enforcement personnel,” according to the lawsuit.

Prince said while attending Dino’s on Feb. 24, 2024, he stole a jacket which contained a wallet and a vehicle key fob, per the court filing. He went to his Bannatyne Avenue home before returning about 30 minutes later to steal the vehicle associated with the key fob outside the grocery store on Isabel Street.

The lawsuit says that Prince—described as an “unemployed laborer”—entered the car, which was boxed in by other vehicles, and triggered the alarm.

Prince says that he was pulled out of the vehicle by Dino’s employees who “punched, kicked and hit him repeatedly.” The suit also claims he “suffered blows to the head” with a hammer, causing him to bleed.

The lawsuit says that Prince had no memory of fleeing the scene until he found himself running about a block away from the scene, eventually returning to his home.

“Shortly after he arrived at his home … a number of the assailants arrived at his home by following the trail of blood that Prince had left in the snow, but he had no further interaction with them,” says the suit.

The court filing says Prince’s brother called 911 after he arrived home. He was transported to the Health Sciences Centre for 24 hours, and after being released, the suit says he was arrested, detained in custody, and charged by the Winnipeg Police Service.

He was eventually transferred to the Headingley Correctional Centre, and after about a month in the provincial prison, police took his statement on the incident, according to the lawsuit.

Prince said the “excessive and egregious assault” has left him with multiple injuries and ongoing impairments, including a concussion, vertigo, nerve damage, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain swelling.

The lawsuit says Prince is unable to gain employment due to the injuries.

None of the claims have been tested in court and no statements of defence have been filed.

CTV News has reached out to Dino’s Grocery Mart and Prince’s lawyer for comment.