Another Windsor gaybashing; suspect arrested

Two gay men were attacked in Windsor early Sunday morning — the second reported gaybashing in the city in less than two weeks.

Windsor Police released this description of the attack, which occurred at a pizza restaurant in downtown Windsor:

“The restaurant was very busy after the downtown
bars had closed for the evening. The victims were in line behind a
group of three men who began to make derogatory comments about the
victims behind them loud enough that everyone in the restaurant could
hear. One of the men in the group was particularly loud and
continued to make disparaging remarks about the two victim’s sexual
orientation. After a number of comments were made, one of the

Advertisement

victims confronted the loudest of the three and advised him that he
should be ashamed of the way he was speaking. Immediately, the
suspect punched one of the victims on the side of the head knocking him
to the floor. The second victim yelled ‘Hey’ to the suspect and
the suspect walked toward the second victim punching him in the nose
also knocking him to the floor. The second victim was bleeding
profusely. Store employees yelled for someone to call the police
which prompted the suspect to exit the restaurant and walk north on
Ouellette Ave.

Both victims were taken to hospital where they were treated and
released for facial injuries. One of the victims sustained a
broken nose and broken cheek bone, which will require reconstructive
surgery to repair the injuries.

27-year-old John Raymond Meloche of Amherstburg is
facing charges of public incitement of hatred, assault causing bodily harm, assault, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Pizza Pizza on Ouellette Ave in downtown Windsor. (Google Streetview)

Windsor Police are also looking to speak to the two men who were with the suspect at the time of the assaults. Anyone with any information as to
their identities is asked to call Windsor Police Investigations at
519-255-6700 x4830 or Crime Stoppers (anonymously) at 519-258-TIPS
(8477).

One of the men is described as being 20 years old, 5’9″, average build
with a shaved head and a gap between his front teeth. He was wearing a
white T-shirt and shorts. A description of the second man is not
available, but there were a number of patrons in the restaurant at the
time of the assault who may have witnessed the events.

Less than two weeks ago, gay man Chris Rabideau was robbed and beaten by two men who shouted homophobic slurs. Police have arrested two suspects.