‘ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS PROTRECT MYSELF,’ SAYS HUNTSVILLE CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER AFTER FRENETIC, ‘PANICKED’ CLOSING TIME ROBBERY ATTEMPT THURSDAY
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
HUNTSVILLE — A Huntsville man who was on probation — and who will be in bail court tomorrow — faces three charges including robbery with intent following a frenetic and “panicked” robbery attempt at a popular West End convenience store here Thursday night “right on closing time.”
Police say that on March 26, at 8:07 p.m., officers from the Huntsville detachment were quickly dispatched to a report of a robbery in progress at the West Road Convenience.
They say information they received was that a male demanded the clerk hand over money from the cash register.
The suspect was described as wearing a disguise, which with the store owner’s description provided police enough information.
And “within minutes” officers had the suspect in hand said the store owner.
“He tried to rob me. And the police got him right away,” Hiren Patel told MuskokaTODAY.com.
Speaking by phone Monday afternoon, he said: “All I wanted to do was protect myself.
“I fight back to protect myself.
“It was like about a one-minute incident. He came in around 8:03 and left by 8:04 and was probably caught by like 8:05 or 8:06 or something.
“While I was on 911, the operator told me they had already caught him, as I was giving them the description. The cops were probably somewhere in the area, I think.”
Patel, 42, was just closing the long-time popular West End convenience store he’s run since 2012 and said the whole thin was fast and furious.
“What happened was he walks in and demands cash” — his face completely covered with some kind of black cloth, a cap, camo jacket and hoodie, which Patel could barely see anything through.
“Soon as he demanded the cash — and tried to reach the cash register — I told him to leave the store. Otherwise, I would call 911.
“And I was just about to get my phone and I turn around and next thing I see he was on my counter and tried to attack me. So I panicked. I had like a small pipe underneath my counter. I grabbed that pipe and tried to scare him off. But he was super aggressive. He kept trying to attack me kicking and cursing me.
“The next thing I know I was literally scared, I couldn’t even think straight. I froze.
“I couldn’t even open my phone properly. Every day it only takes a few seconds to open your phone, but that day I kept struggling to turn on my phone. Then he was constantly trying to stop me. And I was finally able to dial that number (911). But by that time he made his position to look like he would jump on me.
“So I pushed him away and he fell the other side of the counter. And then he tried to jump again. But I just stood my ground constantly telling him to leave my store.
“And when I was able to contact 911 and when he heard some kind of noise the other side on the phone — maybe, I don’t know — but then he realized yeah, like I literally did make the 911 call.
“And he left.”
Empty-handed.
According to the police press release today they said officers were informed of a struggle with the business’s staff, which resulted in the suspect suffering a facial injury. And that the accused sustained minor injuries during the robbery attempt and was provided medical attention for those injuries.
As well, police said, during the robbery various items in the business sustained damage.
They said suspect later fled the scene — but without taking any money from the cash register. And officers responded to the area and quickly, locating a suspect fitting the description.
Further investigation resulted in Matthew Black, 26, of Huntsville, being charged with:
- Robbery with intent
- Mischief — destroys or damages property
- Fail to comply with probation order
Black was held for a bail hearing Tuesday March 31, 2026 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge.
Patel, who was alone in the store at the time, said “he came right on closing time. I close around 8:15 and he came on 8.”
“I’m OK,” now Patel added.
“Yeah, it sucks. He cost me almost $600 or $700, because when he fell he damaged my ice cream fridge. So the fridge is OK. But he also punched my cash register system and it fell from the counter. But lucky it survived. I didn’t realize he fell he broke my refrigerator’s power unit.
“The next day someone was trying to reach an ice cream bar and she says there’s no ice cream it’s all liquid. So it was all melted. It was a big mess.”
Patel said “this is the very first time somebody tried to rob me.
“And even, like, forget about robbery — I have never had any kind of argument with any customers or anything. They’ve always supported me. I often keep telling I’m so lucky. My store is not involved in any kind of trouble so far. It’s a long time.”
Patel said over the weekend his customers have been very good since the attempted robbery.
He said he checked the accused man’s name on Facebook and saw his photo.
“I couldn’t recognize him, I don’t think so. Or it might be long ago. I normally have a good sharp memory. Like I know all my customers. I never seen him as far as I know.”
Patel said police told him he could still be charged with assault. But he hasn’t heard anything further.
“All I wanted to do was protect myself.”
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