Homeowner Accused of Knife Attack on Intruder in Ongoing Legal Battle

According to court documents reviewed in August 2025, a 44-year-old apartment tenant named Jeremy David McDonald is facing charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on August 18, 2025, when McDonald allegedly "endangered the life" of a 41-year-old intruder named Michael Kyle Breen.

Police were called to the apartment around 3:20 a.m. on August 18 for reports of an altercation. Investigators say the resident, McDonald, awoke to find an armed intruder, Breen, in his home. A fight ensued, and Breen was seriously injured and airlifted to a Toronto hospital.

The incident has attracted widespread attention across Ontario. Premier Doug Ford suggested the charges against McDonald show "something is broken" in the law, arguing that people should be able to use force to protect their homes and families. However, legal experts have pointed out that the use of force in self-defense is not unlimited under Canadian law.

Kawartha Lakes police chief Kirk Robertson stated that while the law allows people to use reasonable force to protect themselves and their property, these rights are not without limits. He said investigators carefully examined the evidence before laying charges against McDonald, who is scheduled to appear in court on September 25, 2025.