Family friend attempts mugging with bear spray

By Kacie Cooper

In a recent attempted robbery, bear spray was used as a weapon towards a Windsor man and his pregnant wife.

Andrew Shanahan and his wife, Felissya, were walking on Wyandotte Street on Sept. 27 when two men approached asking for money.

The couple recognized one of the men, who was an old friend of Andrew’s late brother. When the men asked if Shanahan and his wife had any money, he was more than willing to help them out.

However, neither Andrew nor his wife had any cash on them at the time, so they said they would return with money. The men became violent and began making derogatory comments, coercing the couple by saying, “We know your family… why can’t you help us.”

One of the men then pulled out a can of bear spray and threatened to attack the couple. Unknown to the assailants, officers from Windsor Police services happened to be at the intersection of Wyandotte and McDougall where the mugging was taking place.

Ashlee Hayward, a witness at the scene said one of the assailants was immediately caught while the other got away on a bike.

The couple walked away unharmed and Shanahan said he is thankful that the police happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Sgt. Steve Betteridge of the Windsor Police Department said no arrests have been made and no charges have been pressed.