Findings from Project Octopus surveillance

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This article was published 12/02/2009 (6140 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE following incidents and allegations were uncovered by Winnipeg police during "Project Octopus."

 

Surveillance — Dec. 10, 2008

Police see several women coming and going from Paa Pii Wak during the evening hours, including one clearly bringing alcohol into the facility.

Police observe a man leaving the facility, obviously drunk. He is not a resident.

Police arrest a drunk woman leaving the facility who is wanted on an outstanding warrant.

 

Surveillance — Dec. 11, 2008

Police observe a resident of Paa Pii Wak who is under a 24-hour curfew leave the facility, alone. They take no action at this time, not wanting to blow their cover.

Police see a man leaving Paa Pii Wak with six empty king cans of beer, then return a short time later with three new ones. He is not a resident.

Police see a woman and man pull up to the facility. The man is a known cocaine dealer. He goes inside and returns five minutes later. Police stop the vehicle as it leaves and arrest the woman on a warrant. She is found with $200 cash, which police believe is from recent drug sales.

Police see two other women, clearly drunk, leave the facility late at night.

 

Surveillance — Dec. 16, 2008

Police stop a vehicle leaving Paa Pii Wak containing two residents who are under a 24-hour curfew. One is serving a conditional sentence for dangerous driving causing death, the other is pending on criminal charges.

Both are arrested.

Police speak with a Paa Pii Wak staff member, who claims one of the men is out looking for a job. He doesn’t realize the man is now in police custody and allegedly fakes a phone conversation after which he informs police the man has just found work.

Personal visit — Jan. 7, 2009

Police go inside Paa Pii Wak to do curfew checks. Brad Ferland identifies himself as the evening shift supervisor. Police learn there are existing warrants out for his arrest and believe he is intoxicated. He is arrested. They later learn Ferland is being paid $16/hour and making about $1,000 biweekly working as a supervisor at the halfway house while a fugitive from the law.

A man identified as the "midnight relief" to Ferland is on the premises and heavily intoxicated, according to police.

Police find two young women hiding in a closet in one of the upstairs rooms.

 

Key suspect — William Pangman

Longtime leader of the Manitoba Warriors street gang.

Charged September 2007 with firing a gun outside a Winnipeg hotel.

Charged October 2007 following pursuit, allegedly wearing body armour.

Released on bail April 24, 2008 with conditions to gain employment at Paa Pii Wak. Became a paid "support worker."

Gets fellow gang member Michael Ednie out of the Winnipeg Remand Centre on May 15, 2008, after judge says Ednie can to go Paa Pii Wak.

Re-arrested June 2, 2008 for allegedly breaching his curfew following traffic stop at 1:45 a.m. Police say he tried to claim he was out working for Paa Pii Wak and should be exempted. He is later released on bail by a judge.

Re-arrested June 28, 2008 on new weapons charges. Police say a vehicle shot up a house on Dorothy Street during rush-hour traffic. Pangman and others inside the home allegedly gave chase, then allegedly threw guns from the vehicle as police pursued them.

 

— Mike McIntyre