A man has been charged with mischief following a property damage incident on June 17th, after attempting to confront an online seller whose product allegedly stopped working.
According to Winkler Police Chief Ryan Hunt, the homeowner, who was not at the residence at the time, observed the male suspect through his security system and believed the individual was trying to break into his home. He reported the incident to police and began following the suspect after the man left the property.
“While police officers are making their way to that residence, they were advised that the the suspect had left and the complainant was currently following them,” Hunt said. “So police located them, was able to stop the the suspect. And in the discussions with them determined that what had happened was, the suspect had been to that residence the day prior to purchase a phone that he'd been made aware of through social media, went to buy it, and then when he brought it home it stopped working.”
When the suspect returned to the residence the next day, he was reportedly unable to get a response at the door. Police say that’s when the incident escalated to the point of damaging property of the seller.
Hunt explained. “In the end, he was charged with mischief for damaging some items.”
Police confirmed that no break and enter occurred. The suspect was charged with Mischief Under $5000 and released on an Undertaking. He is scheduled to appear in Morden Provincial Court.