News briefs for Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Police identify homicide victim

9:15 AM

Police have identified the victim of a suspicious death earlier this month, which is now being investigated as a homicide.

The Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday that the man was Treymaine Traverse, 33, of Winnipeg. No arrests have been made.

Traverse was found dead by members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service in a suite in a multi-room residence in the 600 block of Main Street at about 10:45 a.m. on March 9.

The WPS is asking anyone with information that might help their investigation to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

Man charged in Pauingassi slaying

9:38 AM

A man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with a killing on Pauingassi First Nation last week.

Dowayne Calvin Strang, 37, was arrested on Sunday and charged Monday.

A 36-year-old Pauingassi man was found dead inside a home early Friday.

Update on last sighting of missing man

11:38 AM

Swan River RCMP said a man reported missing in December was last seen walking along a highway a few days later.

Thunder Gott, 28, of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation was reported missing on Dec. 29. Police first asked for the public’s help in finding him on Jan. 4.

On Wednesday, RCMP said investigators have since learned that Gott was last seen walking along Highway 10, about 500 metres north of Birch River, on the mid-morning on Jan. 3.

He was wearing a light-coloured spring jacket, a grey toque and running shoes, RCMP said Wednesday.

Swan River RCMP are asking anyone with information about Gott’s whereabouts to call them at 204-734-4686, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Third suspect arrested in Dauphin assaults

11:45 AM

RCMP have arrested the third suspect wanted in connection with two serious assaults and robberies in Dauphin.

RCMP said a 45-year-old Pine Creek First Nation woman was left with life-threatening injuries at the Tim Hortons on Main Street South on March 13. She was taken to hospital and later transferred to Winnipeg in critical condition.

A 66-year-old Dauphin man was also assaulted and found by RCMP officers a short distance away. He was sent to hospital and was in stable condition.

Police issued warrants for Samuel Flatfoot, 24, of Pine Creek First Nation; Fred Parenteau, 37, of Dauphin; and Kathleen Flatfoot, 49, of Pine Creek.

RCMP said Wednesday that Samuel Flatfoot has been arrested. The other two suspects had already been arrested and charged.

Missing teen, 16, found

12:38 PM

A teenage boy who had been missing since early February has been found, The Pas RCMP said.

Police said Wednesday that Isaac Oleksiuk, 16, has been found and is safe.

Isaac had last been seen leaving a home in the community early on Feb. 5. He was reported missing that day, and RCMP asked for the public’s help in finding him on Feb. 8.

Commercial fire on Church Avenue

3:10 PM

Crews extinguished a fire in a commercial building on Church Avenue on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were sent to the building in the 1600 block of Church at 9:41 a.m.

“The cause of the fire is accidental and related to a mechanical malfunction,” the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said Wednesday afternoon.

The building’s sprinkler system was activated, and damages to the building were limited, the WFPS said.

A hazardous materials team was sent to the scene but was not required, the WFPS said.

Winnipeg police release surveillance footage of sex assault suspect

3:50 PM

Winnipeg police sex crimes investigators have released surveillance footage of a suspect accused of a sexual assault outside the downtown law courts.

Police said previously a 20-year-old woman was assaulted outside near the Kennedy Street entrance of the building at about 5:45 a.m. March 17. She fell to the sidewalk and the suspect touched her lower body, police said.

Police said the man appears to be 20-30 years old with a medium build. He was wearing a black letterman-style jacket with a red-and-white emblem on his left chest, a green shirt and black running shoes with white soles. He had a moustache, long dark hair, glasses and large headphones on.

Police ask anyone with information on the man to call the sex crimes unit at 204-986-6245 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.