Winnipeg police seize $3M worth of heroin and opium

11:13 AM

Winnipeg police seized more than $3 million worth of heroin and opium during two joint investigations, dubbed Project Poppy, with the Canada Border Services Agency between September and February.

Police said 10 suspects are facing more than 40 charges following raids at three homes in the Maples in September and February.

Some of the suspects are accused of importing drugs as part of an international trafficking network, after four opium-laced rugs were discovered.

Boy, 13, charged in bear spray assault spree

12:35 PM

Winnipeg police have arrested a 13-year-old boy accused in a spree of assaults in the West End and downtown in February.

Police were called to at least four incidents between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 19 in which at least three people were injured with bear spray by two suspects.

Investigators identified one of the suspects but were unable to locate him, police said Thursday, but he turned himself in on Wednesday.

The 13-year-old boy from Winnipeg will be charged with three counts of assault with a weapon, four counts of possession of a weapon and one count each of assault, robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. He was released on an undertaking. Police are still investigating the assaults and ask anyone with information to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Carruthers eliminated from Brier

1:26 PM

Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers has been eliminated from the 2023 Brier in London, Ont.

With Northern Ontario’s Tanner Horgan’s win this morning over Nova Scotia to improve to 6-1, Carruthers and his Wild Card no. 2 teammates now have no shot at being one of the three teams who advance out of Pool A to tomorrow’s playoff round at the men’s curling nationals.

Carruthers is 4-3 heading into his final round robin game this afternoon against Saskatchewan’s Kelly Knapp (3-4).

ER hallway death deemed a critical incident

2:58 PM

The death of a patient in an ER hallway last week has been officially deemed a critical incident, Health Sciences Centre management announced Thursday.

“A report on this critical incident will be generated within three months as required under provincial legislation. More information on this incident will be available at that time,” Shared Health stated.

The recommendations that result from the critical incident investigation will be made public.

Health Sciences Centre chief operating officer Dr. Shawn Young and executive director of acute care services Jennifer Cumpsty held a virtual news conference Thursday afternoon. Cumpsty said the incident has broadly affected hospital staff, not just those in the ER.

“Nobody ever wants something like this to happen,” Cumpsty said.