No arrests in Kildonan Place bear-spray incidents

Winnipeg police have no made arrests in relation to two recent bear-spraying incidents at Kildonan Place.

On Tuesday evening, officers were called to the mall, at 1555 Regent Ave. West.

“Officers attended to a retail business in the 1500 block of Regent Avenue West for an assault with a weapon call,” Const. Pat Saydak said Thursday. “Three individuals sustained minor injuries consistent with being sprayed by pepper spray.”

Mall officials confirmed the incident and said it was limited to a small area.

“Our on-site security personnel quickly secured the immediate area and initiated ventilation measures, Guest Services issued informational announcements, and first responders were on-site shortly thereafter,” KP marketing manager Corey Quintaine said.

“Winnipeg police and emergency personnel attended and indicated that the incident had been managed appropriately.”

There was a similar episode on Jan. 29. Saydak said police were called to the mall just after 6 p.m. after one person was sprayed with mace. No injuries were reported.

The incident kept some customers away from the area concerned, believed to be in the mall’s east wing.

One customer said he was forced to turn back and leave.

Dallas Heuchert said he was walking from the west side of the mall near Shoppers Drug Mart toward the east side to pick up glasses at Pearle Vision.

“By the time I got to the centre court, I had to turn around,” he said. “Some people were saying bear spray, others were saying some sort of spill at the nail (salon).

“As I got closer to the location, it became unbearable. I came back the next day.”

Quintaine said the situation is being monitored.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to public safety, we regularly evaluate our safety and security protocols,” he said. “We continue to collaborate closely with local authorities to maintain a safe environment for everyone at Kildonan Place.”

Bear-spraying incidents have not been limited to Kildonan Place.

Last May, police arrested two teenagers after they broke into stores at CF Polo Park and sprayed several security guards with bear spray.

In October, police said a male bear-sprayed a teen and then ran away.

In November, the Free Press reported that violence had become routine at the city’s largest shopping mall.

Fights are a common occurrence, and so is the presence of police. “You get used to it,” a worker said at the time. “It happens every day.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca