A potential armed robbery at a convenience store in Peterborough, Ont. has led to two men being charged – the robber and the store clerk who fought him off.
The incident took place at around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 5, according to the Peterborough Police Service, who arrived on the scene after a robbery was reported near the corner of King and Bethune streets.
Officers were told that the clerk was in the middle of helping a customer when another man entered the store and began demanding money while wielding a baseball bat.
“A struggle ensued and the clerk was struck with the bat before grabbing the bat away from the suspect,” police told Global News.
The suspect managed to flee the store but was chased down by the clerk until he caught up to him, striking him several times with the baseball bat along a sidewalk close to the store.
The suspect is reportedly in a hospital in Toronto, where he is being treated for head injuries. The clerk was treated on site by local paramedics.
The suspect in the robbery, a 37-year-old man, has been charged with possession of a weapon and assault with a weapon.
Police also charged the 22-year-old clerk with aggravated assault.
He was held in custody until appearing in court on Jan. 6.
The whereabouts of the male customer who was being helped at the time of the robbery and likely a witness to the altercation remains unknown. Anyone with information is asked to notify Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext. 555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
