'It’s unbelievable': Windsor dad says son was pepper sprayed by masked teens in park
A Windsor father is warning other parents after he says his 13-year-old son was pepper sprayed and almost Tasered by a group of masked teens in an east Windsor park.
Dave Bartsch says it happened at Forest Glade Park around 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.
“There was a group of kids, probably like 10 kids, came from each side, cornered my son and his friend. Somebody pepper sprayed him in the face, pulled out a Taser, tried Tasing him and as soon as he pulled out the Taser, my son and his friend just ran,” says Bartsch.
His son lost his cell phone in the process and ran to a nearby convenience store to call his dad. Bartsch, who doesn’t live in the neighbourhood, was already on his way to pick him up.
“I raced there as fast as I could, I couldn’t believe it. It was a terrible phone call to get,” says Bartsch.
He says his son could barely breathe and was red-faced from the pepper spray.
“He’s alright now. He was shaken up for a few days,” adds Bartsch.
Bartsch says he’s speaking out so that other kids aren’t hurt.
Windsor police confirm the major crime unit has been actively investigating a report of an assault at the park, but they cannot release the identities of the youth involved.
Through investigation, police say they believed to be a targeted incident.
Police say three of the suspects are believed to have fled the area eastbound behind the Forest Glade Community Centre. Two of the suspects fled on foot and the third suspect on a bicycle. No further descriptions are available at this time.
After sharing his story with other parents, Bartsch says he heard of similar incidents happening to other kids in the area. He says he feels lucky his son wasn’t seriously hurt.
“I think if they would have gotten him with that Taser, they would have really beat him up bad. He got lucky I think,” says Bartsch.
He has a message for other parents.
“Parents gotta know what their kids are up to, they shouldn’t be running around with Tasers and pepper spray,” he says. “It’s unbelievable. It just blows my mind.”
The Major Crime Unit is asking anyone in the area with video surveillance to check their footage for possible evidence.
Investigators are encouraging witnesses and anyone with information to report it to police or call Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor Police Service - Major Crime Unit at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Bob Cole, veteran CBC broadcaster and former voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada,' dead at 90
Bob Cole, legendary CBC broadcaster and former voice of Hockey Night in Canada, has died. He was 90.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.