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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Teen charged in deadly crash

Opposition calls for tighter enforcement

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 12/15/2009 4:28 PM

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Police investigate the crash that killed Zdzislaw Andrzejczak, 47. (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )

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A family photo of Zdzislaw Andrzejczak, 47, who was killed when his small car was struck by a stolen Hummer at the corner of Alfred Avenue and Andrews Street on Dec. 11, 2009. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

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WINNIPEG - Police have arrested a suspect they believe was driving the stolen Hummer which killed 47-year-old Zdzislaw Andrzejczak on Friday afternoon.

Members of the stolen auto unit arrested an 18-year-old man at 6:40 p.m. Monday, Const. Jacqueline Chaput said this morning.

The suspect has been charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence cause death, dangerous operation causing death, theft over $5,000 and four counts of failure to comply with a sentence.

The man is in custody, and further arrests are pending, police say.

Police say the Hummer was stolen Friday from a parking lot in the 1800 block of Wellington Avenue between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Two hours later, Andrzejczak, a 47-year-old husband and father, died when his car was hit two blocks from home at Andrews Street and Alfred Avenue. Investigators believe the stolen SUV was being driven at a high rate of speed when it collided with Andrzejczak’s car.

Witnesses saw three suspects fleeing on foot.

At the legislature Tuesday, the Conservative Opposition blasted the government for failing to vigorously enforce court orders, especially for the most serious car thieves.

Justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said auto thieves and gang members treat such orders "as a joke." He said that the 18-year-old accused in the fatal crash already had a long history of court order breaches on his record.

"These criminals know that those court orders are not going to be enforced under this NDP government," he said in the house.

Attorney General Andrew Swan said provincial governments have been pushing Ottawa for changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act that would allow judges to take deterrence into account when sentencing young offenders.

"That hasn’t happened yet. We hope to continue raising our voices," he said.

Swan said while Winnipeg’s auto theft suppression strategy has worked well, reducing car thefts by 70 per cent since 2005, but he allowed that "more work" needs to be done.

"A Level 4 car thief, the worst of the worst, should have the most vigourous enforcement of his court orders. Why didn’t that happen?" Goertzen asked.

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