Accused killer, still at large, wanted at time of city slaying

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This article was published 27/03/2024 (571 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man wanted in connection with the fatal assault of a 24-year-old in a Main Street apartment last week was on police radar at the time for breaching bail conditions.

Dyson Irvin Sumner, 28, was identified publicly by police Tuesday and is wanted on a warrant for second-degree murder. He is considered dangerous and could be armed.

On March 19, officers found Murdo Baker in a suite at the public housing complex at 817 Main St. Baker, who was from South Indian Lake, was pronounced dead in hospital. His homicide is the 10th in Winnipeg this year.

Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said Wednesday he couldn’t elaborate about the circumstances of the slaying while Sumner remains at large.

Michalyshen said he was unsure of whether the men knew each other, or whether either lived in the suite where Baker was found.

Sumner is also wanted on a warrant issued in February for allegedly breaching a January release order, the Free Press has learned.

He remains before the court for a slew of alleged offences, including carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace and four counts of possessing ammunition while prohibited, court records show.

Sumner was released by the provincial court on Oct. 25, a week after he was picked up for allegedly possessing ammunition.

On Nov. 18, he was accused of failing to comply with the order, which was then revoked in early January, after he was picked up on a second charge of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace and multiple release order breaches.

Sumner was again granted bail on Jan. 31, before the warrant for the latest court order breach was issued.

“This is an individual we are very familiar with.. certainly very familiar with as of late,” said Michalyshen.

The issue of an accused being out on bail and committing more crimes has become a political flash-point across the country.

The Manitoba government announced last month it had brought in a policy to advise Crown attorneys to consider the potential harm of releasing an offender when bail is being sought, out of concern for community safety. However, lawyers pointed out that issue already must be considered by courts, as set out in the Criminal Code.

The NDP plan includes $3 million for Winnipeg police to hire 12 new officers to track down people who violate bail conditions.

Sumner was most recently convicted of theft and breaching a probation order in 2021. The theft charge had been pleaded down from a robbery.

At the sentencing hearing, his lawyer told court Sumner had struggled with addictions since the age of 16, beginning with alcohol and more recently, methamphetamine. He was born in Jackhead First Nation, north of Winnipeg, and was taken by a child welfare agency at about age four.

He has a Grade 8 education and has worked as a labourer for roofing, stucco and moving companies, his lawyer said.

Sumner has also been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, assault with a weapon, and a possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, court records show.

He’s currently subject to two court orders prohibiting him from possessing weapons.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca