Officers have a suspect in custody in connection with a series of robberies, including one where a restaurant patron was stabbed and rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Mike Skroda said he was stabbed in the lung and heart and hit with bear spray.

“The hardest part of that was being punctured in the lung…and trying to catch my breath, but all I’m catching is more bear spray,” said Skroda.

Around 2 a.m. on March 15, police and emergency crews were called to the 1400 block of Henderson Highway for a report of a robbery. Several suspects had entered Jeffrey’s Restaurant and demanded money.

The lounge was just closing when the robbery unfolded. Some of the customers, including Skroda, who had left went back inside to try and help staff.

“A lot of people would tell me I did the wrong thing, but I acted on impulse,” said Skroda.

He said the women working inside the restaurant are like sisters to him.

The restaurant’s owner said he wishes Skroda hadn’t run back in, but does call his actions heroic.

“We’re all like a family Cheers-kind of bar here where everybody feels like (it's) home. You don’t think masked men are going to come with mace and knives,” said Don McKenzie.

Along with Skroda’s injuries, a bouncer was also hit with bear spray. The restaurant is looking to hold a fundraiser for the men off work recovering from injuries. Skroda was upgraded to stable condition, before eventually being released from hospital.

The suspects fled the scene after the stabbing.

Surveillance video from the restaurant’s security cameras was used in the investigation.

After the Jeffrey’s Restaurant robbery, the suspects then hit convenience stores in the 600 block of St. Anne’s Road and the 400 block of St. Anne’s Road, where two customers managed to disarm one of the suspects. The suspects then fled in a stolen vehicle, said police.

Officers later spotted a suspect in the 300 block of Assiniboine Avenue and arrested him.

Michael Fox, 23, faces multiple charges, including three counts of robbery with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and three counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited, said police.

“The investigation isn’t complete. Members of the major crimes unit are actively involved,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen from Winnipeg police.

After being released from the hospital, Skroda said he returned to the restaurant the next morning and couldn't wait to return to his favourite hangout.