Chinatown Grocer David Chen Gets High-Powered Help
Posted October 15, 2010 2:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Chinatown grocer is getting some high-powered help.
David Chen and two of his employees at the Lucky Moose were charged for allegedly assaulting a thief. Now, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow will introduce a private members bill that will change the law surrounding a citizen’s arrest.
Dubbed the “Lucky Moose” bill, the law would allow a citizen’s arrest to happen within a reasonable period of time. The law currently states a civilian can only make an arrest if a person is caught in the act of a crime.
“It’s important that he be able to earn a living but also be able to protect his business,” Chow said outside Chen’s store on Friday.
“I have heard from a lot of store owners that it is just not fair that shoplifters can get caught, but Mr. Chen is being treated like a criminal,” she added.
Anthony Bennett stole $60 worth of plants from the Lucky Moose Food Mart on Dundas near Spadina in May 2009. When Bennett returned to the shop an hour later Chen and two of his co-workers allegedly chased the thief down and detained him in a van until police arrived.
Bennett, 52, confessed to the crime but received a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against Chen.
The Crown argues Bennett wasn’t committing a crime when Chen pursued him.
