A homeowner is facing assault charges for attacking an armed burglar he found breaking into his apartment in the middle of the night.

An unidentified 44-year-old resident of Lindsay, Ontario, in Canada awoke to find a 41-year-old man inside in his home on Kent Street on Monday.

He confronted and fought the intruder, who suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital in Toronto.

The Kawartha Lakes Police Service was called about 3:20am and responded to the scene, arresting the homeowner after an investigation.

The owner was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon and released to face court at a late date.

The unidentified intruder was charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breaking and entering, mischief under $5,000, and violating his probation.

The suspected burglar, who was already wanted by police on unrelated charges, will be taken into custody when he is well enough to leave hospital.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was furious that police leveled charges against the homeowner. 

‘This criminal that’s wanted by the police breaks into this guy’s house, this guy gives him a beating, and this guy gets charged,’ he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

‘Something is broken.

‘I know if someone breaks into my house or someone else’s, you’re gonna fight for your life. 

‘You’re going to use whatever force you can to protect your family. I know everyone would.’

Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson issued a statement defending the decision amid the backlash.

‘[T]he negative commentary about the officers and their actions is unjust and inaccurate,’ he said.

Robertson explained that the law allowed people to use reasonable force to protect themselves and their property if they believed they were facing a threat.

‘Under Canadian law, individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property,’ he said. 

‘However, it is important to understand that these rights are not unlimited in Canada. The law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.

‘This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances.’

Robertson said investigators were able to examine all the information and evidence that was available before pursuing any charges, but police were not revealing most of it to protect the investigation.