A man accused of stealing $25,000 worth of items and clothing for the Presidents Cup golf tournament from a downtown hotel was arrested Thursday, Montreal police say.
Francis Wexu, 46, is charged with two counts of theft over $5,000 and one count of possessing illegal substances. Police say Wexu committed two thefts over Sept. 20 and 21. He remains in detention until his next hearing.
The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel is the host hotel for the tournament, though police would not confirm the name of the hotel where the theft occurred. TVA reported, however, that the equipment was taken from the Queen E. Police have yet to recover the stolen equipment, the spokesperson said.
Wexu is awaiting sentencing in a breaking and entering case originally filed against him in Quebec City. The case was transferred to Montreal and he had been scheduled to be sentenced this week. He is also charged in Montreal with intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion to property he does not own related to an alleged offence in 2022. Wexu gave as his place of residence a Montreal shelter for unhoused people.