News briefs for Sunday, January 12, 2025

Meth, cocaine, seized after stolen vehicle tracked

1:12 PM

A man and a woman were arrested in the VLT lounge at Assiniboia Downs Saturday after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle into a snowbank.

The suspects were also charged with drug trafficking offences after police seized cocaine and methamphetamine from them, the Winnipeg Police Service stated in a news release.

The vehicle, a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, was reported stolen Saturday morning during a commercial break and enter in the 1100 block of McDermot Avenue. Police received a tip that it was spotted in the St. James area, and police followed it to the 3900 block of Portage Avenue. The suspects ran away after getting the vehicle lodged in a snowbank, police said. 

Police seized 57 grams of methamphetamine (estimated street value of $2,825) and 28 grams of cocaine ($2,750), as well as more than $1,600 in cash, scales and packaging material.

Liam John Freeman, 24, of Winnipeg, and Desiree Dawn Hjorleifson, of Arborg, were both arrested, charged with several offences and detained in custody.

Auto thief suspect accused of robbing car wash

12:47 PM

A 41-year-old man is accused of stealing a vehicle and using it to rob a car wash.

Police believe a suspect stole a 2021 Ford Transit 350 cargo van from an autobody lot in the 1000 block of Arlington Street sometime between Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Then, at about 4 a.m. Jan. 10, the same suspect backed the vehicle into a glass door of a car wash in the 100 block of Watson Street and stole the cash register, which contained cash and gift cards.

Police came upon a suspect walking in the area of McPhillips Street and Polson Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 11. The man fled while being interviewed and was apprehended by police after a foot chase.

Joseph Christopher Colosimo, 41, is charged with breaking and entering, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and under $5,000, as well as violating a probation order.

22-year-old arrested after police find shotgun in taxi

12:35 PM

Winnipeg police found a sawed-off shotgun in a taxi parked on Furby Street on Saturday morning.

Officers were in the in the 500 block of Furby Street at about 6:15 a.m. Jan. 11 when they interviewed a man sitting in a taxi as part of a separate investigation. They found the man wasn’t involved in the incident at hand, but did have a 12-gauge round of ammunition on him in addition to the shotgun with an obliterated serial number, the Winnipeg Police Service stated in a news release Sunday.

A 22-year-old man was arrested and faces charges related to unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was released on a promise to appear in court and his name hasn’t been publicly released by police.

Man, 29, arrested after Corydon stabbing

9:48 AM

A 37-year-old man is injured and a 29-year-old man remains in custody after a Friday night stabbing.

It happened at about 11:50 p.m. Jan. 10 at a residence in the 1000 block of Corydon Avenue after an argument over living arrangements between two people who knew each other, Winnipeg police said in a news release Sunday. Richard Luke Archie, 29, is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon. He is accused of stabbing the victim inside the home. The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to stable.