News briefs for Monday, July 29, 2024

Steinbach RCMP seek identity of distressed woman

2:44 PM

Steinbach RCMP are trying to identify a woman who was picked up hitchhiking on Saturday who has been unable to communicate her own identity.

Mounties were called about an “unknown woman” who had been brought to the local hospital on Saturday.

When officers went to the hospital, they were told the woman had been hitchhiking on Highway 1 near Highway 12 and seemed to be in distress, so a passerby picked her up and took her in for medical care, RCMP said.

The woman was released from the hospital on Sunday, but has no identification and hasn’t been able to provide her information to police. Mounties have been housing her at the detachment as she has nowhere else to go.

RCMP have asked anyone who knows who she might be to call the detachment at 204-326-4452 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, so she can get home or get a placement with a social services agency.

Body of third missing fisher found

2:37 PM

Manitoba RCMP have recovered a third body in Lake Winnipeg after a trio of fishermen went missing from Misipawistik Cree Nation one month ago.

Tyler Ballantyne, 31, Rayden Dick, 28, and Delaney McGillvary, 29, went missing on June 27. Ballantyne’s body was recovered two days later, while Dick’s body was found July 17.

In a news release Monday, police announced McGillvary’s remains were recovered Sunday with the help of local searchers from the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team.

The First Nation is located 430 kilometres north of Winnipeg, at Grand Rapids.

Woman accused of attacking officer

2:07 PM

A woman causing a disturbance in an Osborne Village grocery store is accused of attacking a police officer who tried to stop her.

Police were investigating an unrelated incident at the River Avenue grocery store Saturday when one of the officers noticed a woman causing a disturbance, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday.

When an officer asked the woman to leave, she threatened to kill them, grabbing a can of insect control spray and discharging it at the officer’s face, the release said.

The officer struggled with the woman, who assaulted the cop further, police said.

Other officers intervened and arrested the suspect, police said.

The officer was hurt but did not require medical attention.

A 36-year-old woman is charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, uttering threats, resisting police and breaching a court order. She was held in custody.

Fire levels northern band office

1:19 PM

A fire destroyed the band office on Shamattawa First Nation Saturday.

The fire was reported to RCMP at 11:50 a.m.

“Officers attended and noted the structure was completely engulfed in flames,” Sgt. Paul Manaigre said by email.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, Manaigre said, adding the investigation continues.

Shamattawa First Nation is 744 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Split Lake woman wins $1 million from lottery ticket

12:41 PM

A woman from Split Lake has won $1 million on a lottery ticket purchased May 31.

Carla Spence said she plans to buy a lakefront cabin with her winnings, which came after she bought a Lotto Max ticket at a deli in Thompson.

“He checked it at the terminal and said he couldn’t pay my prize—it was too big,” she said in a press release sent by Lotto Max Monday. “When I saw the amount, I was so overwhelmed.”

Two charged, 3D-printed firearm seized

11:28 AM

Two people have been charged and a loaded 3D-printed firearm has been seized after a traffic stop in the North End Sunday.

At about 11:15 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the 1900 block of Ross Avenue West following a report of a man and woman in an SUV with what was believed to be a handgun, police said in a news release Monday.

Officers pulled over the vehicle and discovered a loaded 3D-printed firearm inside, the release said.

A 40-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman face a variety of charges. Their names were not released.

The man was held in custody, while the woman was released.

Maples homicide victim identified

9:24 AM

A 34-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dakota Tipi First Nation man Kennedy Maxwell Elk.

Elk, 36, was living in Winnipeg and was a victim of a fatal stabbing in the Maples neighbourhood early Sunday morning. Winnipeg police have detained accused killer Ryan Sage Meeches in custody and are asking anyone with information about the homicide to contact investigators at 204-986-6508 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

Police responded to the first 100 of Marlow Court, off Mapleglen Drive, regarding a serious assault just before 4 a.m. July 28. They found a man with serious injuries consistent with being stabbed. The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced deceased. On Monday morning, police identified the deceased victim as Elk.

Officers arrested the accused at about 9 a.m. July 28 at a hotel in the 2500 block of Portage Avenue.