News briefs for Friday, October 14, 2022

Fire crews are battling a fire in an apartment building on Quelch Street in the Weston area this morning.

Logan Avenue is closed in both directions between Cecil and Vine streets.

The City of Winnipeg said firefighters were sent to the two-storey apartment building in the 100 block of Quelch Street at 5:41 a.m. Crews are expected to remain at the scene for a while.

Residents of a nearby building are being evacuated as a precaution, the city said in a news release at about 9:20 a.m.

Access to Weston School might be temporarily affected because of the fire, the city said.

A residential building in the 500 block of Furby Street is expected to be a total loss after a fire broke out after midnight Friday.

Firefighters are expected to remain on scene this morning as they tend to the blaze. Furby Street is closed in both directions between Sargent and Ellice avenues.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, however the city’s Emergency Social Services team is assisting ten residents in finding temporary accommodations.

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a suspect in a sexual assault in Thompson.

The incident happened outside the Burntwood Hotel on Selkirk Avenue on Aug. 20, sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., RCMP said.

Police are trying to identify a suspect seen on security video.

The male is described as being 5-7 in height, with a slim build and short dark hair. He was wearing black jeans, a grey/black sweater and black cap.

RCMP are asking anyone who can identity the male to call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6090, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Power lines leading to Pukatawagan that were damaged in a wildfire this summer have been fully repaired, Manitoba Hydro says.

About 2,000 residents were evacuated in July because of the fire.

Manitoba Hydro shipped two large generators to Pukatawagan by rail to restore power until the lines were fixed.

The electrical supply was fully restored last Saturday, Manitoba Hydro said Thursday. 

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after an RCMP officer was accused of driving at a high speed without a legal justification.

RCMP notified the Independent Investigation Unit of the allegation on Wednesday.

According to that written notification, an RCMP officer was spotted driving a police vehicle westbound on Highway 1 into Brandon at an excessive speed on Oct. 6.

The civilian agency’s director, Zane Tessler, has decided it is in the public’s interest for the IIU to investigate.

Winnipeg police have issued a public warning after at least five people reported being the victim of a “grandparent scam” in recent days.

Also known as “emergency scams,” the crime often involves someone calling an elderly person and claiming to be a grandchild who is in serious legal trouble and needs money immediately, police said in a news release Friday.

Such calls often involve a second person pretending to be a lawyer, who instructs the potential victim on how to transfer money for bail or the family member will be jailed.

On Friday, police made public an image of an adult male suspect who went to people’s homes to retrieve such funds in the most recent complaints. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police financial crime unit at 204-986-6231 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786- 8477 (TIPS).

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness has tested positive for COVID and won’t be behind the bench for the team’s home opener tonight.

Associate coach Scott Arniel will handle those duties in the interim.

Winnipeg hosts the New York Rangers at Canada Life Centre. Puck drop is 7 pm.