News briefs for Sunday, October 9, 2022

BANFF — The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Jansen Harkins on waivers as they work towards their opening-night roster.

Harkins, 25, has appeared in 132 NHL games with 10 goals and 12 assists. He had 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 77 games last year.

Winnipeg now has 24 players left in training camp — 13 forwards, nine defencemen, and two goaltenders. They must cut down to a maximum of 23 players by Tuesday’s deadline.

The Jets are spending the next three days in Banff as they prepare for Friday’s season opener against the New York Rangers. They’ll hold practices on Monday and Tuesday before heading home.

A 35-year-old Winnipeg man was charged last week after a police investigation revealed he set ablaze a car on Keewatin Street and a garage in the 1600 block of William Avenue West, causing extensive damage.

The suspect also suffered first and second-degree burns to his upper body, said police officers who located the suspect near the garage on fire in the 1600 block of William Avenue West on Friday, Oct. 7.

The suspect was taken to hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable. He was taken into custody.

According to the investigation, at approximately 2:45 a.m., the suspect first broke into a vehicle and set it on fire, on the first block of Keewatin Street. After that, he entered the garage in the 1600 block of William Avenue West, where he set it on fire, causing serious injuries to himself in the process.

Further, the suspect broke into the house, took off his clothes, and stole a blanket before fleeing on foot.

The suspect has been charged with two instances of arson causing damage to property as well as breaking and entering, and theft.

Two Winnipeg men have been arrested after a 25-year-old male victim was assaulted in the first block of Stadacona Street on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The victim sustained upper-body injuries, police said in a news release. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

The two suspects were later seen walking on Henderson Highway near Hespeler Avenue where they were arrested.

Police investigation revealed that the suspects, 25 and 28 years old, approached the victim, demanding cigarettes as well as the groceries the victim was carrying. When their request was denied, the suspects assaulted the victim before fleeing on foot.

The victim and the suspects did not know each other.

The suspects are facing robbery charges.

Both were released on undertakings as mandated by the criminal code.

Firefighters were called to a six-suite apartment building in the 400 block of Pacific Avenue to douse a fire that broke out on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8:43 p.m.

When crews got to the scene, they saw heavy black smoke coming from the building.

Firefighters entered the building and brought the fire under control at 9:03 p.m. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Later at 10:39 p.m., another fire broke out in a home in the 100 block of Douglas Park Road.

At the scene, firefighters saw heavy flames and smoke coming from an exterior fireplace. The fire was brought under control at 10:53 p.m.

No one was injured.

Albert Fleury, a 73-year-old Winnipeg man, who was missing since yesterday, Oct. 8 has been located, police said Sunday.

Fleury was last seen around Portage Ave. and Spence St. on Saturday at approximately 10 a.m., police said in a news release. He was wearing a purple checkered shirt, black jacket, white belt, blue jeans, and black cowboy boots.

Fleury is 5’9′ tall, thin built, with white hair.

Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP is looking for Alizay Houle, a 16-year-old girl from the Ebb & Flow First Nation, who is missing since last week.

Police received a report of the missing teen on Oct. 6. Houle was last seen yesterday at a residence on Atlantic Street in Winnipeg.

She is 5’7” tall, weighs 130 lbs, and has black hair and brown eyes. She is believed to still be in Winnipeg, police said.

RCMP is asking anyone with information to reach out at 204-447-3082, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a secure tip online.