News briefs for Friday, September 9, 2022

The Pas RCMP are searching for a woman who went missing after an evening walk on Wednesday in the northern Manitoba city.

Stephanie Fernandez, 30, was reported missing at 12:50 a.m. Thursday when she didn’t return back to her home after telling other residents she was going for a walk.

She left her home on Cook Avenue at around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and hasn’t been in contact with family or friends. Mounties said they are “very concerned” for her well-being.

She has long black hair and brown eyes, and was last wearing a pink-and-white hoodie atop a grey dress. Mounties ask anyone with information to call the detachment in The Pas at 204-627-6204, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or online. 

A third suspect has been charged in a spree of purse snatchings that targeted elderly women this summer.

On Aug. 14, Winnipeg police arrested a 25-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, who were both charged in the robberies that occurred in broad daylight throughout the city in July and August.

Both were also charged with multiple counts of fraud using a credit card and possession of property obtained by crime. The man was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and three counts of possessing a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Major crimes investigators identified an additional suspect and arrested him on Wednesday. The 20-year-old man is facing charges of robbery, use of credit card and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Police also charged the man arrested Aug. 14 with an additional robbery related to the purse-snatching spree.