Three police officers hurt, one shot fired in vehicle pursuit

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/12/2023 (994 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg Police Service officer shot at a fleeing stolen vehicle after its driver allegedly struck three officers who were trying to make an arrest early Sunday.

Police pursuit of a vehicle that had been reported stolen began in the Spence neighbourhood at around 12:40 a.m. The WPS helicopter, which was guiding officers on the ground, spotted the vehicle driving dangerously, through red lights at high speed and into oncoming traffic, police said Tuesday.

The vehicle then drove over a stop stick — which is meant to blow-out tires — and struck a police cruiser, but kept driving with damaged wheels, police said.

The suspect vehicle stopped on the first 100 block of Herman Avenue in the Tyndall Park area, and its driver allegedly got into another vehicle that been reported stolen and attempted to flee, police said.

That vehicle hit three officers on foot, who were trying to arrest the driver; another officer fired one shot at it. Nobody was hit with the bullet, police said.

Police contained the vehicle at McAdam Avenues and Aikins Street and arrested a male suspect.

He was taken to hospital for minor injuries, as were two police officers. Another officer was hurt but did not need to go to the hospital, WPS said.

Jordan Josh Katcheconias, 33, has been charged with three counts of assault peace officer with a weapon, flight while pursued by police, dangerous driving, two counts of possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000, and driving while prohibited.

He was detained.

Katcheconias’s record includes convictions for two weapons offences — possessing a prohibited firearm knowing it is unauthorized and possessing a firearm contrary to a court order — both committed in August 2021. He was found guilty in December 2022, and given time in custody plus 17 days and a year of supervised probation.

He was convicted in 2011 of possessing a firearm without a licence, and theft over $5,000 of a motor vehicle in 2010, court records show.

A court clerk said Katcheconias was also ordered to stand trial on a number of charges in 2013, but the outcome is subject to a publication ban.