Online fundraiser for ‘polite, modest farmer’ facing firearms charges sending message, neighbour says

Thousands of dollars have been raised to help cover the legal fees of a Manitoba man charged after he allegedly fired a gun at thieves during a theft on his farm in August.

Mike Pfrimmer started an online fundraiser to help his neighbour cover the costs of a potential legal battle.

“By having the landowners arrested when they’re defending the property, you’re not supposed to use excessive force, but who’s out there at 10:30 at night explaining what is or isn’t excessive force during an incident?” Pfrimmer, 65, said.

Last month RCMP said the owner of the property, a 66-year-old man, saw a group of suspects on a motion-activated camera and watched one of them transferring fuel from a portable container into one of two stolen vehicles. The man confronted the group and allegedly fired shots towards the vehicles, police said.

Three people were arrested at the scene. The property owner was also arrested and now faces multiple firearms-related charges.

A 29-year-old man from the RM of Hanover, a 47-year-old man from the RM of Emerson-Franklin and a 41-year-old woman from the RM of Emerson-Franklin were charged with numerous theft, trespassing and mischief offences. The younger man was also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Both men were both remanded into custody. The woman was released on an undertaking.

A fourth suspect fled in the one of the stolen vehicles, which was located in Pfrimmer’s field the next morning. That individual remains at large, an RCMP spokesperson said Wednesday.

Pfrimmer, who owns an agricultural business near Carman, says rural theft has increased in recent years. His property was broken into eight years ago and since then he says he’s spent almost $20,000 on security equipment.

“You’re not supposed to use excessive force, but who’s out there at 10:30 at night explaining what is or isn’t excessive force during an incident?”

He hopes the fundraiser sends a message about the right to defend oneself.

He said his neighbour is a polite, modest farmer and believes he fired shots at the stolen vehicles to spook the thieves and didn’t aim the weapon directly at them.

“You don’t know about these people that are trying to steal. Were they on any type of drug? What’s going to happen next?” It’s not for me to be the judge and jury, but I do believe you should be able to defend your property,” Pfrimmer said.

At the time of the incident, an RCMP spokesperson said Canadians may take steps to protect themselves or their property, but any force used must be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, including the nature of the threat.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives have called on Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code, seeking clearer legal protection for Canadians who use reasonable force to defend themselves or their properties from intruders.

Borderland MLA Josh Guenter presented a private member resolution in the legislature in October 2025, but the NDP did not support it. He renewed the resolution and it is on the fall session’s order paper.

Donations to the man’s legal expenses have come from as far as Alberta, which Pfrimmer says shows wide support for the cause.

“I do believe you should be able to defend your property.”

“It’s overwhelming, and it’s very appreciative to the community. I think that has a little bit in itself a message that something has to happen,” he said.

The effort had raised more than $19,000 of its $26,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca