A long-time Bradford councillor was allegedly assaulted during a brazen attempted break-in at his jewellery store earlier today.
There was an increased police presence on Barrie Street and Holland Street East in Bradford on Thursday afternoon as South Simcoe Police responded to the robbery attempt at Bradford Jewellery.
Store owner and Ward 7 Coun. Peter Dykie was allegedly pistol-whipped in the incident when three suspects attempted, but failed to break the store’s display cases with hammers.
Dykie’s son Justin Dykie also works at the store but was taking his brother to Vaughan at the time of the incident; however, he was also speaking with his dad over the phone when everything happened at about 4:15 p.m.
“All I hear was a bang sound and my dad screaming, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop! Get out of the store!’” Justin said.
He recalled there was a brief period where he could no longer hear his father and instead it was just the sound of banging.
“Then all the sudden, I hear him say ‘Get out of the store.’ They left the store and my dad was saying ‘Call 911,’ so then we called the cops and we’re here,” Justin said.
Family members said Peter was taken to South Lake Regional Health Centre and was expected to be OK.
Police said he was being treated for minor injuries and there is no known threat to the public. No other information was available.
This story will be updated as more details become available.
