The Sarnia man arrested after police said a 75-year-old volunteer collecting donations for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign was hurt trying to thwart a liquor store theft has made bail after spending about two months in jail.
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The volunteer, who tried to stop a masked man leaving the Quinn Drive LCBO with two bottles of vodka around 2:30 pm Dec. 16, was pushed and tripped, fell and hit his head, police said at the time. The senior was taken to hospital, where he received several staples, they added.
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Brandon Tetreault, 26, of Sarnia was arrested a couple of days later after the public helped identify him through video surveillance photos and charged with aggravated assault, theft worth less than $5,000, and wearing a disguise with the intent to commit an offense, police said .
He was kept in custody for about eight weeks until he was released Feb. 16 on $1,000 lease, records show. But he can’t go back to that LCBO location or be within 25 meters of Greg Robbins, the Salvation Army volunteer. Tetreault, whose girlfriend’s mother is his safety, is also banned from weapons.
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The case returns to court next month. The charges haven’t been tested in court.
Police at the time said the age of the senior – Robbins was initially identified as a Red Cross volunteer, but he was collecting money for the red-themed Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign – was a significant factor in deciding to lay the aggravated assault charge.
“As the strike to the victim’s head could easily have endangered his life,” police said.
But the volunteer was released from hospital after being treated for his injuries, they added.
Police initially weren’t sure who the suspect was and asked for the public’s help to identify them. They released surveillance photos of a man wearing a red hood, black face covering and a New York Yankees baseball hat. Two days later, police said they received a number of tips from the public and were able to identify a suspect.
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