‘They’re wielding machetes’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/03/2024 (587 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s police chief took the rare step of criticizing the child-welfare system after a string of random and violent incidents involving kids in care, including a machete attack on a woman waiting at a St. Vital bus stop.

“The violence that we’re seeing is remarkable. They’re wielding machetes and using them almost at what appears to be indiscriminately,” Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth said Thursday at a news conference to discuss the spate of attacks that police say were committed by a group of young people who know each other.

The chief said all of the underage suspects were living in group or foster homes, where caregivers don’t have the means to give them a stable life.

“They don’t have the resources or the tools to meet the needs of the youth in their care,” he said. “This means that the kids are left to themselves to go anywhere and do anything that they see fit.”

Smyth highlighted four recent incidents in which suspects have been identified, adding that police are still investigating several other crimes they believe to be linked to the group, which is not considered a street gang.

“We’re of the belief that there is a loose affiliation of a bunch of youths that are involved in similar conduct. We’re slowly trying to unravel the puzzle here… and I expect that more will come out of this investigation,” he said.

In response to concerns raised by the police chief, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe called the violence unacceptable.

“We need to make sure that anybody who needs supports, that needs further services to help them get back on the right track, that we’re offering those to everybody,” said Wiebe.

The first robbery Smyth discussed happened at a bus stop near St. Mary’s Road and Riel Avenue, close to the St. Vital Centre mall, at about 5 p.m. Sunday.

A 19-year-old woman had left work and was waiting at the southbound stop on St. Mary’s when she was confronted by a boy who demanded she hand over her phone. He pulled out a machete and swung it at her.

The victim was struck by the blade and suffered serious injuries as she defended herself, Smyth said.

The attacker ran and a bystander helped the woman until police arrived and gave her first aid. The victim was rushed to hospital in stable condition and treated for “life-altering injuries.”

“They don’t have the resources or the tools to meet the needs of the youth in their care.”–Chief Danny Smyth

Officers identified the suspect as a 13-year-old and got a warrant for his arrest. When he was arrested downtown Wednesday, he had a machete, police said.

He has been linked to the Tuesday night robbery, at gunpoint, of a 12-year-old boy at Main Street and Rupertsland Avenue. The victim was robbed of his phone and the suspect ran off. The boy was not hurt, and police recovered the firearm, an air-powered pellet gun, linked to the incident.

Police said the boy, who didn’t know either victim and is being held in custody, has been charged with several offences, including aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order and three counts of failing to comply with a sentence order.

Some of the charges indicate the boy had been involved in the justice system before the recent incidents.

“It suggests to me that his needs are not being met,” said Smyth.

The provincial government has announced a public safety summit will be held this spring.

Smyth said that would be a forum to delve into issues related to youth violence and the child-welfare system.

“I certainly hope that some of the service providers in (child welfare) come to the table… These are some of the very complicated things that need to be discussed and talked about. The police have a role in it, but it’s not for us to take the lead,” he said.

“The care that they’re provided is really what needs to be addressed.”

“We need to make sure that anybody who needs supports, that needs further services to help them get back on the right track, that we’re offering those to everybody.”–Justice Minister Matt Wiebe

Smyth referenced the downtown slaying of a teenage girl in December. In that case a vulnerable youth had left their care placement and ended up being the victim of violence. In other cases, such youth are exploited.

Mitch Bourbonniere, a social worker, welcomed the chief’s candid remarks.

“I believe the chief’s intention is good, to bring some awareness and bring light to the issue of under-resourced and at-risk youth,” said Bourbonniere.

He does worry about the potential of the comments to stigmatize the 10,000 or so children in care in Manitoba, because it’s only a small group that inflicts the type of violence described at Thursday’s news conference.

“My empathy lies with any victim out there, anybody who’s been confronted with a machete or bear spray, someone who’s been assaulted, someone who’s been robbed, that’s my No. 1,” said Bourbonniere, “but I’m also very, very loyal to kids in care.”

Bourbonniere said he would like “action therapy,” which involves positive activities in the community with consistent mentors, expanded to include all vulnerable kids, rather than just certain ones.

“They all need uncles and aunties. They all need guidance,” he said.

Smyth described other violent incidents at the media availability.

He said that on Monday, a 25-year-old man was robbed by a group, including a machete-wielding youth, near The Forks, but despite police identifying the suspect, the victim did not want to press charges.

“I believe the chief’s intention is good, to bring some awareness and bring light to the issue of under-resourced and at-risk youth.”–Social worker Mitch Bourbonniere

On Tuesday, police arrested four males, including three youths, for a robbery near the Humphrey Inn & Suites at 260 Main St. at about 12:50 a.m. Smyth said the 13-year-old accused in the bus stop machete attack knows the group involved in the Main Street robbery.

A 25-year-old man was walking when he was robbed by a group of youth and threatened with a machete. He was not injured and the four suspects were tracked to St. Boniface. Two of them had bear spray, a large sheathed serrated knife and a curved knife, police said.

A 20-year-old man is facing a robbery charge and two counts of possession of a weapon. A 17-year-old boy is facing two charges of possession of a weapon. Both suspects were released on undertakings. Two other 17-year-old males were released without being charged.

— with files from Danielle Da Silva

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca