News briefs for Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Louelda Street closed because of ‘police involvement’

9:09 AM

Louelda Street is closed between Concordia and Kimberly avenues because of “police involvement in the area,” the Winnipeg Police Service tweeted Wednesday morning.

Drivers are advised to use Antrim Road to the north or Simpson Avenue to the south as alternative routes, the WPS tweeted at 8:30 a.m.

Highways reopened around Winnipeg

9:30 AM

Portions of the Trans-Canada and Perimeter highways that were closed late Tuesday evening due to poor driving conditions reopened Wednesday morning.

Those that are now open include:

• Highway 1, from Elie to Winnipeg, in both directions;
• Highway 1, from Hwy 100 Perimeter to Highway 12, in both directions;
• the Perimeter all around Winnipeg.

Seven residents of Sargent Avenue apartment displaced after fire

10:09 AM

Seven residents of a Sargent Avenue apartment block will need to stay elsewhere temporarily after a fire in the building Tuesday night.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews were called to the building on the 700 block of Sargent Avenue at 10:37 p.m., where they found smoke and flames coming from the apartment, the fire service said Wednesday.

Firefighters went inside and got the flames under control by just after 11:30 p.m. No one was reported hurt.

City social services went to the building to help seven of the residents find somewhere to stay, while the other tenants were able to return to their suites, the fire service said.

Winnipegger to take mound for Goldeyes

10:10 AM

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have added some local flavour to the mix.

Right-handed pitcher Marc-André Habeck has been signed for the 2023 season, the American Association team announced Wednesday.

Habeck, 29, pitched for Parma in the Italian Serie A in 2022, going a stellar 7-0 with a 2.14 earned-run average in 17 appearances.

He split the 2021 season between Fargo-Moorhead, Sioux City and Kane Country of the American Association and made three appearances against the Goldeyes.

The Bonivital Black Sox product attended Frank Phillips College (Borger, Tex.) and Georgia State University (Atlanta).

Winnipeg also announced that infielder Kevin Lachance and outfielder Jacob Rhinesmith have been released and are free agents.

Road closure near Concordia Hospital prompted by gun call

11:45 AM

Winnipeg police say a road closure near Concordia Hospital Wednesday morning was prompted by a gun call.

Officers were called to the 700 block of Louelda Street, between Concordia and Kimberley avenues, at 7:08 a.m. for a report of a man armed with a gun.

Officers were led to a nearby house, where tactical officers deployed, police spokesman Const. Jay Murray said.

The home was cleared and the roads were re-opened around 10 a.m. Murray said police are still investigating.

RCMP make arrests in 2022 Moose Lake slaying

2:27 PM

Moose Lake RCMP have charged two people in the slaying of an 18-year-old man in the northern community last year.

Mounties found the man severely injured at a home in Moose Lake at about 2:30 a.m. on March 5, 2022. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Feb. 24 this year, Dion Campbell, 22, was charged with manslaughter, RCMP said. On Monday, a 17-year-old male was charged with manslaughter.

RCMP said both accused were held on remand and remain in custody.

IIU investigation hampered after officer dies during probe

3:23 PM

The province’s police oversight agency has closed an investigation into an injury a man received during an arrest by a Winnipeg police officer after the officer died during the probe.

The Independent Investigation Unit was notified by city police of the June 10, 2022 incident on Aug. 10 last year. Winnipeg police had arrested a man on Holborn Place and “a use of force encounter occurred.”

He was given medical attention at the scene, then taken to police headquarters. Then on Aug. 18, the Law Enforcement Review Agency advised city police it had gotten medical evidence showing the man had broken a rib, which qualified for an IIU investigation.

IIU investigators interviewed the man, witnesses and fire paramedic service crew members, but before the investigation could be completed, the main officer died.

Normally, the IIU said Wednesday, the agency would forward its investigation to Crown prosecutors to decide whether a charge could have been laid, but that decision is moot because of the officer’s death.

The agency finished the investigation as best it could, it said, but the full IIU report will be released once the man’s court proceedings related to the initial incident are complete.

Steinbach RCMP seek missing girl

3:42 PM

Steinbach RCMP are searching for a 17-year-old girl missing since last Friday.

Morningstar Bear, also known as MJ, was reported missing Friday night after she was last seen in Steinbach around 2 p.m.

RCMP said the teen is 5-4 and 115 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. She has piercings in her ears, nose and lips. She last wore a grey jacket with a fur hood, blue headphones and black shoes. Mounties think she could be in Winnipeg or Brandon.

RCMP ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the Steinbach detachment at 204-326-4452 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

CSLR captures first provincial title

5:55 PM

For the first time in school history, the Centre scolaire Leo-Remillard (CSLR) Renards are the Manitoba Women’s High School hockey League Division 1 champion after beating the Churchill Bulldogs 4-1 at Dakota Community Centre.

Naomi Delaquis, Chloé Nicolas, Zoe Comte and Talia Jones scored for the Renards on a night goaltender Emma Khan had a near-perfect outing, making 29 saves to secure the victory.

CSLR went 6-1 in the playoffs after going 19-5 during the regular season.