Former Saskatchewan Roughrider attacked outside liquor store for his beer

REGINA – A former Grey Cup-winning player with the Saskatchewan Roughriders football club had to spend several hours in a Regina hospital after he was assaulted outside a liquor store.

Al Ford had just emerged from a south-end outlet Monday afternoon when a person who had been inside approached the former CFL great and accused him of robbing him the previous evening.

Ford, 70, suffered from facial injuries, a jaw fracture, and a fracture near his eye after being hit in the face by a stranger who wanted his beer.

Sally Ford says her husband is still in quite a bit of pain after getting out of hospital late Monday night.

She says her husband is stitched up, bandaged and not looking very pretty, but that he’s going to be all right.

He was putting the beer in his car when a stranger confronted him.

“One of them came up to him and said, ‘Hey, you’re the guy that (robbed) me last night.’ And (Al) said, ‘No I didn’t.’ So they tried to take his beer and (Al) says, ‘No, you’re not taking my beer.’ And that’s the last he remembers,” Sally said.

Witness rushed over to help and managed to get a licence plate number of the attacker’s vehicle. Sally said someone from the liquor store called her, and Al was taken to the hospital.

“I ran immediately (there) and rode in the ambulance with him to the hospital. So we were there until 11 last night.”

About three hours after the assault, police arrested a man.

TylerLeon Joe Alexson, 29, is charged with robbery/assault with intent to steal, and breach of recognizance.

Police say they are trying to locate a second person who may have been involved in the attack.

(CJME)