News briefs for Thursday, February 26, 2026

Police probe suspicious vehicle incident after children approached

5:58 PM

City police say its child abuse unit is investigating “suspicious circumstances” after children were approached by an unknown driver in the area of Tyndall Park.

Police say the incident happened around 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the 100 block of Kinver Avenue. Several school-aged children were playing outside when a man in a light-coloured vehicle — possibly a van, truck or SUV — pulled up beside them and offered them money and a ride. The children ran home and reported the encounter to a parent.

The suspect is described as a man with brown-complexion who may have been wearing a mask. The vehicle was last seen heading westbound on Kinver.

Police are asking anyone with information, including home surveillance or dash-camera footage, to contact the Child Abuse Unit at 204-986-3296 or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

Shotgun, drugs seized from stolen BMW

3:28 PM

City police seized a shotgun and drugs from a stolen vehicle Tuesday afternoon, resulting in a raft of charges for a 38-year-old suspect.

Officers spotted a man believed to have outstanding warrants exiting a 2009 BMW behind a home in the 1000 block of McLeod Avenue around 3 p.m. He attempted to flee when he spotted police, but was arrested after a short foot pursuit, WPS said in a news release Thursday.

Further investigation revealed the vehicle was stolen, and police found a sawed-off shotgun, 32 grams of cocaine and nine grams of methamphetamine during a subsequent search, the release said.

The suspect was detained in custody and is facing more than a dozen related charges.

Man dies after medical event while driving

12:34 PM

A man in his 40s is dead after he experienced a medical event while driving on Portage Avenue Wednesday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service officers were sent to the 2000 block of Portage Avenue at about 10 a.m. after a report of a motor vehicle collision, a Thursday news release stated.

It was determined the man suffered a medical episode while driving westbound on Portage, crashing into parked vehicles on the north side of the road.

He was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Nobody else was injured.

Budget day announced

11:57 AM

The Manitoba government will release its 2026 budget on March 24.

Already, Manitoba has projected a near doubling of the province’s deficit. Manitoba is eyeing a $1.6-billion deficit this fiscal year, up from the last spring budget’s $794 million estimation.

Dry conditions leading to wildfires and losses at Manitoba Hydro have contributed to the change, the province has said.