Daytime robbery in downtown Windsor caught on video, suspect facing multiple charges

Security video appears to show a brazen daytime robbery in the city and a bystander springing to action. CTV Windsor's Sanjay Maru has details.

Surveillance video shows a daytime robbery in downtown Windsor that has led to a 37-year-old man facing multiple charges.

The owner of The Service Market said a man entered the store Tuesday around 9 a.m. with his face fully covered, violating store policy. A sign on the door states that face coverings are not allowed.

“He was asked to remove the covering or leave,” the store said in a statement posted to social media.

After leaving the store, staff said the man noticed an unlocked truck parked outside. He climbed into the vehicle and emerged with two boxes of product.

Surveillance video shared on social media shows another individual, identified by the store as the truck’s driver, running toward the man and tackling him to the ground.

After a few seconds, the two men got back to their feet. The suspect then chased the driver into the store with a knife. The video ends at that point.

The store’s owner, who declined an on-camera interview, told CTV News the suspect quickly exited the store, retrieved the boxes that had fallen during the altercation, and walked away.

Later that day, the Windsor Police Service arrested a 37-year-old man about 400 metres away near University Avenue West and Ouellette Avenue.

“He has been charged with robbery, wearing a disguise with intent to commit an offence, and mischief,” said Const. Bianca Jackson in a statement.

Windsor city councillor Renaldo Agostino, who represents Ward 3, which includes the downtown core, said incidents like this during the day are “very rare.”

“So when it does happen, it’s going to get that extra attention because of the gravity of what happened,” Agostino said.

He noted that since Windsor city council approved funding for the Strengthen the Core initiative, increased police foot patrols downtown have led to a drop in crime.

“People are very happy to see the extra police presence,” Agostino said. “But you’re still going to have incidents sometimes because there’s still people who are down there that need to be in places where they can access the help they need.”

When asked about concerns that the video could reinforce fears about visiting downtown, Agostino said the incident at The Service Market is “not a downtown thing.”

“This could happen anywhere, anytime, any place,” he said, adding that absolute safety would require extreme measures.

“Lock yourself in your homes and never step outside. This is all part of life.”

The store owner echoed that sentiment, telling CTV News his intention in posting the video was to highlight the actions of the suspect, not to discourage people from visiting downtown Windsor.