A Winnipeg man is suing a grocery store and several of its employees, claiming he was violently assaulted after trying to steal a car earlier this year.
Michael Prince, 36, filed a lawsuit in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on August 12 against Dino’s Grocery Mart, its supervisor and/or owner Rajan Varma, and eight unnamed staff members. He is seeking damages for what he calls an “excessive and egregious assault” that has left him with permanent injuries.
According to the statement of claim, Prince went to the Isabel Street store on February 24, 2024, where he stole a jacket containing a wallet and a car key fob. About 30 minutes later, he returned and attempted to steal the vehicle associated with the fob.
When Prince entered the car, which was boxed in by other vehicles, the alarm went off. Court documents allege that several store employees pulled him from the vehicle and “punched, kicked and hit him repeatedly”, even striking him in the head with a hammer.
Prince says he suffered skull fractures, cranial nerve damage, and ongoing issues including permanent hearing and vision loss, PTSD, vertigo, migraines, insomnia and panic attacks. He claims he has been left unable to work and continues to struggle with depression and anxiety.
The lawsuit also alleges that after fleeing the scene, Prince was tracked to his home by employees following a trail of blood he left in the snow. He later spent 24 hours in hospital before being arrested by Winnipeg police and charged with theft. That charge was later stayed.
Court records show Prince has a long criminal history with at least 17 prior convictions for property offences. In a pre-sentence report for unrelated thefts, he admitted being part of a “profitable theft ring” responsible for stealing more than $1 million in goods over nine years, much of it used to fuel gambling and drug addictions.
Despite his criminal past, Prince argues in his lawsuit that the staff at Dino’s used far more force than was necessary to conduct a citizen’s arrest or hold him for police. None of the allegations have been proven in court, and no statements of defence have been filed.
Both Varma and Prince’s lawyer declined to comment on the pending case.
