Teens charged in bear-spray attacks

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This article was published 13/02/2023 (937 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two teen boys are facing charges after nearly a dozen people were attacked with bear deterrent spray on a Winnipeg Transit bus, at a store and a rec centre.

It was one of two unconnected bear-spray incidents committed on the same bus route Sunday.

The first occurred in the area of Sargent Avenue and Empress Street at about 3 p.m. The Winnipeg Police Service said Monday seven people — ages 12 to 60 — were sprayed, including the bus driver.

Chris Scott, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, said it’s lucky the vehicle was stopped at the time.

“The operator was sprayed,” Scott said Monday. “It’s not like the operator could use an eye wash station — we can’t even get first aid stations on the bus.”

Scott added he’s glad the City of Winnipeg has committed to adding security details on the transit system; he just wants it sooner than later due to the number of violent incidents in recent days.

Last week, a 50-year-old passenger was followed off a bus and injured by another passenger armed with a machete.

On Monday, Scott said there was also another bear-spray incident, on the same bus route at Main and Henry, at about 4:45 p.m.

Two passengers got into a physical fight while the bus was moving; one pulled out a can of bear spray and used it on the other, the union leader said. It’s not known what happened to the suspect after the bus stopped.

“I want the (future Transit) security to be around with this,” Scott said. “They will be trained.

“It is my hope with this criminal activity, it will do the job it is intended to do to cap the violence and bring it down.”

After spraying people on the bus in the first incident, the suspects fled and went into a retail store on the 1000 block of Empress. The suspects allegedly sprayed three more people, ages 16 to 52, before fleeing.

The suspects went to a recreational centre on the 400 block of Langside Street shortly before 6 p.m. and sprayed a 22-year-old staff member, the WPS said.

An 18-year-old staff member was also slapped in the face.

Officers spotted two suspects holding cans of bear spray outside the centre, the police said. The two youth ran away but were quickly caught. Four cans of bear spray were seized, the WPS said.

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One suspect allegedly spat at an officer’s face, police said.

The 11 people who were sprayed were treated by members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

Police believe all the victims were unknown to the suspects. No motive has been identified, the WPS said.

Both teens had existing warrants for arrest. They are facing several charges and remain in custody.

— Staff