News briefs for July 11, 2022

A man who the Manitoba First Nations Police Service arrested under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act died in a cell at the Long Plains detachment Saturday. 

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, which investigates all in-custody deaths, is now probing the circumstances of the man’s death. His name and age have not been released. 

The police service told the watchdog about the death Saturday. The service said officers had arrested the man and lodged him at the detachment at 2:17 p.m. At 3:21 p.m., he was found unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to hospital in Portage la Prairie, where he was later pronounced dead. 

The IIU has asked any witnesses or others who have information or video footage that could help investigators to contact them at 1-844-667-6060. 

A Norway House man missing since his empty boat was discovered has been found dead.

Norway House RCMP said on Monday the body of a 63-year-old man was found in the water on July 10 at about 7 a.m.

RCMP said the man was last seen getting into his boat on the Jack River on July 9 at about 9 p.m. About an hour later, someone spotted the empty boat and called RCMP.

An autopsy will be performed, but at this point RCMP do not suspect foul play.

A man in his 70s was injured late Sunday night after he was hit in the head with a wooden board while walking near the intersection of the Disraeli Freeway and Henry Avenue.

Police officers found the man around 10 p.m. The man said an unknown male hit him from behind with the board. When he fell to the ground, the suspect fled on foot. Paramedics treated and released the victim at the scene.

Witnesses reported the assault to a nearby security officer, who chased the suspect and held him until police arrived. Upon arrest, the suspect provided a false name, police added.

A 24-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with assault with a weapon and public mischief.

A Winnipeg man is in custody after a serious assault on Saturday afternoon around 4 p.m. in the 300 block of Princess Street.

Police said a man in his 60s was the victim of an unprovoked assault in an apartment. The man was found with a serious injury to his face and sent to hospital in unstable condition. Though his condition was upgraded to stable, the man sustained life-altering injuries, police said.

The accused, who was still at the scene, was taken into police custody. Police said the two men knew each other.

A 35-year-old man is facing charges of aggravated assault. 

A man in his 20s was injured in a stabbing on Friday in the Spence neighbourhood.

Around 11 p.m. patrolling police officers found the stabbing victim. He was taken to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable condition. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the major crimes investigators at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

A man in his 30s was robbed at gunpoint in downtown Winnipeg, police said Monday. 

On Sunday just before 11 p.m., Winnipeg police officers met with a man who said he was the victim of a carjacking that had occured around 7:45 p.m. that evening. 

The man in his 30s said he was parked near Cumberland Avenue and Carlton Street when he was approached by a woman asking for a smoke. Police say the woman pulled out a knife and another man approached with a gun. 

The suspects stole personal property and fled in the vehicle, police said. The victim was not physically injured. The vehicle was found unoccupied in the 100 block of Garry Street.

Police describe the suspects as follows: 

• A white woman, 25 to 35 years old, with brown hair in a ponytail. She was wearing a ball cap and a button-up or zip-up black jacket with a strap on the shoulder.
• A white man with fair skin, dark eyes and multiple tattoos between 25 to 35 years old. He was wearing a black hat and a black sweater.

The major crimes unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

A 61-year-old man from La Broquerie has died in a two-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 52 Friday. Three other people were hurt in the crash.

Two vehicles were on their roofs on the north and south sides of the highway when Steinbach RCMP responded at roughly 5:25 p.m. July 8, Steinbach RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 52, between Road 38 East and Road 39 East in the RM of La Broquerie. EMS was already on the scene treating several people.

In a news release Monday, RCMP stated their initial investigation showed a minivan was travelling eastbound on Highway 52 when a westbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided head-on with the minivan. The 61-year-old male driver of the minivan was pronounced dead on scene. The passengers in the minivan, a 54-year-old female and a 12-year-old male, were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 38-year-old male driver of the SUV, from Steinbach, was also transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been released from the hospital and charges are pending, RCMP stated.

An 18-year-old was taken to hospital in critical condition after a stabbing in an inaccessible, bushy area south of Wilkes Avenue on Saturday. 

Winnipeg police say emergency crews were called to the area of Wilkes and Community Row around 12:39 a.m. on July 9 for a stabbing. 

According to police, responding officers had to head south on Community Row, a gravel road, for two kilometres before they were flagged down by a group of teenagers. 

The group told police their friend had been stabbed and was in the bush, about one kilometre away, police said. 

Officers hiked to the scene and found the 18-year-old man with significant stab wound injuries and provided emergency medical care. Emergency medical responders and police had to carry the man on a stretcher to the ambulance on Community Row. 

He was taken to hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable. 

The Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

A man with a sawed-off rifle was overpowered by a couple he tried to rob early Sunday morning at a North End service station.

Winnipeg police said on Monday the attempted robbery took place at Mountain Avenue and Salter Street on Sunday at 2:50 a.m.

Police said a man with a gun walked up to a male in his thirties and a female in her twenties and demanded property. The couple was able to flee in their vehicle after a struggle, during which the suspect was disarmed. A sawed-off .22 caliber rifle was later recovered, police said.

Neither victim was injured.

The suspect is described as Indigenous, heavier build, late 20s or 30 years of age, between 5-6 and 5-11 in height, and wearing a red sweater, black hat and a backpack.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call police at 204-986-6219 or call Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

A woman was taken to hospital in stable condition on Saturday after jumping from a moving vehicle in a carjacking incident.

Winnipeg police responded to the area of Grant and Wilton avenues around 5 p.m. where they located the female victim. The woman is believed to have been parked in the 1200 block of Grant Avenue when she was confronted by a male suspect who entered the vehicle and assaulted her.

The suspect is described as a male with tanned skin, 23-35 years old, approximately 6’0” with a medium stalky build, a shaved head, a shaved beard and unknown clothing.

The vehicle was later found in the 900 block of Carter Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call major crimes investigators at call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

A player who made headlines during Winnipeg Jets training camp in 2021 won’t be with the team this season.

Restricted free-agent forward Evgeny Svechnikov wasn’t offered a qualifying offer today from the Jets, making him an unrestricted free agent.

He came to Winnipeg on a tryout and earned a roster spot last year, finishing with seven goals and 12 assists in 72 games.

The Jets announced tendered qualifying offers to forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois, Mason Appleton, David Gustafsson, Jansen Harkins, Kristian Vesalainen and Jeff Malott, along with defencemen Leon Gawanke and Johnathan Kovaceiv.

Blue-liner Markus Phillips was also not qualified.

A 22-year-old man shot by RCMP in Shamattawa who had been in critical condition in a Winnipeg hospital has since died, Manitoba’s police watchdog said Monday. 

The man was walking on a road with a firearm around 1 p.m. July 2, when officers, who reportedly heard several gunshots, shot the suspect after he shot at them, RCMP allege. 

He was taken to the community’s nursing station with serious injuries before being flown to the Health Sciences Centre approximately 750 kilometres south of the northern First Nation. 

The Independent Investigations Unit, which is probing the shooting, was told on Saturday the man died. The watchdog has since asked the Manitoba Police Commission for a civilian monitor, which is standard when investigating fatalities. 

The IIU asks anyone with information or video footage to call the 1-844-667-6060. 

The City of Steinbach has issued an air quality warning after a fire created potentially toxic fumes.

The blaze took place Sunday, beginning around 3:22 p.m. on Main Street between Friesen and Reimer avenues.

Around 10 p.m., the city issued a warning asking nearby residents and people with respiratory issues to remain indoors, close all windows and shut off their ventilation systems.

"Due to the contents of the structures involved in the fire, the resulting smoke is considered toxic," the city said.

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Winnipeg police have issued a warning about a high-risk sex offender who was released from Headingley Correctional Centre Sunday.

Curtis Leroy George, 30, is expected to live in Winnipeg.

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George has a lengthy criminal record including multiple convictions of sexual assault, in which he randomly attacked five females walking or jogging, and sexual interference involving a 13-year-old female. He was also convicted of assaulting a female jail guard.

As part of his probation order, George is banned from Portage Place, City Place, City Place parkade, Canada Life Centre and the skywalk that connects those buildings.

He is also prohibited from visiting public parks or public swimming areas where teens and children could be present, as well as daycares, school grounds, playgrounds or community centres.

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