Beer vendor stabbed for enforcing mask rule

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This article was published 17/11/2021 (1512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An employee at a Main Street hotel was stabbed Wednesday after telling an individual to follow COVID-19 public health restrictions.

The man, who was working at the Northern Hotel beer vendor, was rushed to hospital in unstable condition after being stabbed at about 12:55 a.m., city police said.

Hotel owner Keith Horn said the employee, who has worked at the 826 Main St. business for about three years, was attacked simply because he was enforcing the province’s public health order on people wearing masks indoors.

“He asked a woman to put a mask on, and a guy in the lobby took exception to what he was saying,” said Horn. “When she refused, he told her you have to wait outside… (The other man) stabbed (the vendor) over the counter.

“We tell people hundreds of times a day to put on the mask. It is pretty much every day, but this is the first time someone has been stabbed.”

Horn said the employee was already home from hospital. “He texted my brother and said he’ll be in tonight (to work).”

The business owner said the suspect who fled after the attack was wearing a mask.

“He is not a regular, but he was with a guy we know,” Horn said. “We don’t know who he is, but he said he had just got out of jail.

“Look, I get why we have to wear masks. You would think by now it would be commonsense and habit after all this time.”

Winnipeg police are asking anyone with information to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca