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| Date: May 31, 2010 | ||
| DOWNTOWN ASSAULTS LEAD TO CHARGES | ||
Windsor Police have laid charges including one of "Public Incitement of Hatred" after assaults on two openly gay men in the downtown core early yesterday morning. At 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, the two victims were standing in line at a Pizza take out restaurant in the 200 block of Ouellette Ave. The restaurant was very busy after the downtown bars had closed for the evening. The victims were in line behind a group of three men who began to make derogatory comments about the victims behind them loud enough that everyone in the restaurant could hear. One of the men in the group was particularly loud and continued to make disparaging remarks about the two victim's sexual orientation. After a number of comments were made, one of the victims confronted the loudest of the three and advised him that he should be ashamed of the way he was speaking. Immediately, the suspect punched one of the victims on the side of the head knocking him to the floor. The second victim yelled "Hey" to the suspect and the suspect walked toward the second victim punching him in the nose also knocking him to the floor. The second victim was bleeding profusely. Store employees yelled for someone to call the police which prompted the suspect to exit the restaurant and walk north on Ouellette Ave. One of the restaurant employees flagged down a police officer outside the store and pointed out the suspect walking away. The officer identified himself and shouted at the suspect to stop. Upon hearing this the suspect took off running north on Ouellette Ave with the officer in foot pursuit. The suspect attempted to evade the officer by cutting through several parking lots on Chatham St and Pitt St and eventually ran across Riverside Dr. The officer was able to catch the suspect on Ouellette Ave just north of Riverside Dr. The suspect fought with the officer and was eventually subdued after a struggle with the assistance of two other officers who had arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Both victims were transported to hospital where they were treated and released for facial injuries. One of the victim's sustained a broken nose and broken cheek bone which will require reconstructive surgery to repair the injuries. John Raymond MELOCHE - 27 years of Amherstburg is facing charges of Public Incitement of Hatred, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Assault, Assaulting a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest. Windsor Police would also like to speak to the two men who were with the suspect at the time of the assaults. Anyone with any information as to their identities is asked to call Windsor Police Investigations at 519-255-6700 ext 4830 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 519-258-TIPS (8477). One of the men is described as being 20 years old, 5'9", average build with a shaved head and a gap between his front teeth. He was wearing a white t-shirt and shorts. A description of the second man is not available but there were a number of patrons in the restaurant at the time of the assault who may have witnessed the events. - 30 - |
