Neighbour Launches Fundraiser for Manitoba Landowner Charged After Shots Fired During Alleged Theft

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover the legal costs of a rural Manitoba landowner accused of firing shots toward the vehicles of individuals he suspected of stealing from his property southwest of Winnipeg.

The fundraising campaign is being organized by Mike Pfrimmer, who says he is a neighbour of Carman-area landowner Henry Suderman.

“As a community, we hope that this will help lessen the burden on the landowner and show that we are not willing to stand by while thieves continue to get away with vandalism and theft,” Pfrimmer wrote on the GoFundMe webpage.

The fundraiser identifies Suderman as its beneficiary and says the money will be used to cover his legal fees. As of mid-day Sept. 16, the campaign had raised $16,305 toward its $26,000 goal.

On his Facebook page, Pfrimmer also called for changes to Canada’s judicial system, which he described as “broken.” He argued that repeat offenders are moved through the courts without proportionate consequences for the harm they caused victims.

“These damages are not just physical. They also cause mental anguish to the owners of the property that has been vandalized,” he added. “Defending your property shouldn’t mean you suffer more than those who violate it.”

Incident

Pembina Valley RCMP charged Suderman following the Aug. 15 incident at the rural property in the Rural Municipality of Dufferin. Suderman was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Nov. 3.

RCMP said officers responded to a report of a theft in progress and determined that four suspects had visited the property earlier in the day before returning that evening in two vehicles that had been reported stolen.

A motion-activated camera alerted Suderman, 66, who went to the area and saw the suspects transferring fuel from a portable container into one of the vehicles.

“The property owner, who had a firearm, confronted the suspects,” RCMP said. “During this confrontation, the property owner fired shots towards the vehicles.”

Three suspects remained at the property until police arrived, while a fourth fled in the other vehicle. Police later located that vehicle in a canola field several kilometres away.

RCMP said officers found items in one of the vehicles that they believed had been stolen from the property. Three of the suspects face multiple charges, including theft, mischief and trespassing, while one also faces a charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.