Teens forced into bedroom, assaulted by man wielding syringe: police

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This article was published 17/06/2024 (488 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police have charged a 49-year-old man after a suspect wielding a syringe broke into a North End apartment and sexually assaulted two teenage girls in a random attack.

Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said the incident happened at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the St. John’s neighbourhood.

“I would just say that these individuals were extremely brave to come forward to go through the process of speaking with police,” she said Monday.

“This is a very heinous event. It will be determined in court what the motive is, but ultimately there was some opportunity here.”

About 10 minutes before the attack, the suspect tried to break into a separate home in the neighbourhood, after watching a mother and her two children in their yard, said McKinnon.

“It will likely be a long journey for these females — all three of them, really,” she said.

“The first female had a sense of unease and brought her children into the house. This individual seemed very focused and driven to still get into the home. Thankfully, was not able to.

“In the second incident, certainly a very tragic outcome, and it will take some time for healing and resources will reach out to the victims in this matter.”

Suspect released from prison last year

The man who was charged was released from prison last year, according to records obtained by the Free Press.

Sherry Gott, Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth, said her office was notified of the second incident, as per provincial legislation.

“This fits our definition of serious injury under our regulations,” she said.

Gott said her office will conduct an assessment and determine if an investigation is warranted.

“It’s very sad when we hear of these situations,” she said. “This is a very sensitive topic and sensitive issue. These children need to be respected at this point.”

The advocate may review a serious injury to a child who was receiving, or whose family was receiving, a reviewable service — such as child and family services, mental health, addictions or youth justice — at the time of the injury or in the year before the injury, according to legislation.

It is unknown if either girl was receiving a reviewable service.

Tried to break into another home: police

McKinnon said police were initially notified after a stranger tried to break into the home of a mother and two children, after watching them from across the street.

She said the mother took the children inside and locked the doors.

“When you’re a mom, you just know,” McKinnon said of the mother’s sense of unease.

The suspect tried to break in, but was scared off by another person inside the home.

About 10 minutes later, the same male went to a nearby apartment building, where he broke into a suite while armed with a syringe, said police.

McKinnon said the girls were forced into a bedroom, where the suspect threatened to kill them and physically and sexually assaulted them.

The victims called 911 for help when the male passed out. A suspect was arrested when police arrived at the suite.

The girls, who did not know the attacker, were taken to hospital for medical attention, said police.

McKinnon said detectives from the sex crimes unit took over the investigation and linked both incidents.

Convictions for aggravated assault, obstruction of justice

Winnipeg resident Alfred Colin Muskego was charged with several offences, including break, enter and commit sexual assault. He was held in custody.

Muskego has a lengthy record dating to at least 2006 that largely consists of convictions for court order breaches, as well as weapons offences, possession of property obtained by crime, fraud and drug trafficking, records show.

His most serious crimes — aggravated assault and obstruction of justice — netted him an eight-and-a-half-year sentence in federal prison, less time served awaiting trial.

Then-Court of King’s Bench Justice David Kroft sentenced him to the federal stint in April 2018.

Muskego committed the assault on a woman in Winnipeg in April 2015 and then attempted to dissuade her from testifying over the course of nearly three months in 2016, court documents reviewed by the Free Press said.

He was released from Stony Mountain prison on parole on Aug. 30 last year, and left the Winnipeg halfway house he was ordered to reside at on Sept. 2, resulting in an arrest warrant for escaping lawful custody.

He made his way to Prince George, B.C., where he worked with a brother in the logging industry.

Muskego wasn’t arrested until New Year’s Day this year, when he returned to Winnipeg after he saw in the news that a person with the same name as his son had been reported missing, his lawyer said at his Manitoba provincial court sentencing for escaping custody on April 11. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Muskego’s federal sentence ended in February while he was in remand awaiting provincial sentencing for escaping the halfway house.

Learned to read and write in prison

Court heard Muskego is from Norway House First Nation and was raised in child welfare in group homes and foster care. His own children are in Child and Family Services care.

In federal prison, he finished high school after learning how to read and write. Muskego told court in April he had a job waiting for him in B.C. but wanted to be with his children in Manitoba.

Provincial Court Judge Kelly Moar told Muskego to use the skills he learned in federal prison programs.

“Start getting yourself ready for release and stay out,” said Moar on April 11.

The judge sentenced Muskego to 90 days in jail on a joint recommendation from the Crown prosecutor and defence. Provincial inmates are generally eligible for early release at two thirds of their sentence.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca