News briefs for Thursday, May 18, 2023

Ice lose third-straight in WHL championship

12:03 AM

It was about as close to a must-win game as it gets, and the Winnipeg Ice came up just short.

The junior club staged an admirable effort but fell 4-2 to the hosting Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 4 of the Western Hockey League championship.

The T-Birds lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into a pivotal Game 5 on Friday (9 p.m. puck drop) in Kent, WA.

Dylan Guenther registered the game-winning goal for the hosts at the 7:47 mark of the third period. Kevin Korchinksi, Gracyn Sawchyn and Nico Myatovic (empty netter) also found the back of the net for the T-Birds on a night they outshot the Ice 37-33.

Carson Latimer and Evan Friesen scored for the Ice. Latimer had what would have been a go-ahead goal disallowed in the second period after officials deemed he batted the puck in with his elbow.

The Ice have now lost three-straight games after winning Game 1 in Winnipeg.

Vacant home on Elgin Avenue burns

8:36 AM

Fire erupted in a vacant house on Elgin Avenue on Wednesday night.

Crews were sent to the two-storey house in the 400 block of Elgin at 8:57 p.m and declared the fire under control at 9:46 p.m.

Firefighters initially fought the fire from outside because of dangerous conditions.

Cause of apartment fire accidental: WFPS

8:38 AM

Crews used an aerial ladder to help extinguish a fire in an apartment building on Mountain Avenue early Thursday.

Firefighters were sent to the three-storey apartment building in the 300 block of Mountain at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday and declared the fire under control at 12:28 a.m. Thursday.

Crews eventually entered the building and extinguished the fire from inside.

A Winnipeg Transit bus was sent to the scene to provide shelter for evacuees. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team helped residents find temporary accommodations.

Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

Two arrested after community centre break ins

9:29 AM

Two men have been arrested after the Chalmers Community Centre was broken into three times.

Winnipeg police said on Thursday the pair were arrested following an investigation which connected them with the three break and enters at the community centre which saw tools and equipment totalling more than $11,000 taken as well as an ATV and trailer worth $7,000.

Police also charged the men in connection with a break and enter at a business in the 100 block of Watt Street, where more than $14,000 in tools and equipment were taken, and a storage facility in the 100 block of Archibald Street. It is not known how much was stolen from there.

When arrested in a residence in the 400 block of Thames Avenue, more than $1,200 in Canadian currency was found as well as numerous stolen items.

The two men, aged 29 and 25, have been detained in custody.

Missing man found

11:56 AM

A missing man has been found and is safe.

Robert Ramsay Hall, 30, had last been seen in the Osborne Village area on April 30.

The Winnipeg Police Service made the announcement late Thursday morning.

Home invasion suspect arrested

2:19 PM

The last of six suspects has been arrested in a home invasion in which shots were fired in a home with children inside.

Evan Cromarty, 29, has been arrested and remains in police custody, RCMP said Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened in Norway House Cree Nation on the morning of May 3. Three men dressed in black and wearing bandanas around their faces barged into the home. A 50-year-old man who lives at the home was stabbed.

RCMP said the three suspects fled the house, joining three other men waiting outside.

Cromarty had been wanted on four arrest warrants before the incident.

No failures in jail cell death: IIU

2:20 PM

The Independent Investigation Unit has found no police officer failed in their duties after an intoxicated man died in a cell at the Thompson RCMP detachment.

The man was arrested under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2021. He was found unresponsive at about 11 p.m. and transported to Thompson General Hospital, where he died Sept. 14.

“The civilian director found no evidence to suggest that any police officer failed to discharge the statutory duty of care owed to intoxicated persons in their charge,” the IIU said.

Teen girl charged in Bloodvein assault

2:51 PM

A teenage girl is facing an aggravated assault charge after a fight involving multiple people on Bloodvein First Nation’s main road.

RCMP were sent to the scene at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday and found a 32-year-old woman suffering from life-threatening injuries, lying on the road. She was transported by police to the nursing station and later flown to Winnipeg.

A 17-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday.

The 32-year-old woman remained in hospital in stable condition Thursday afternoon.

Bloodvein RCMP continue to investigate the incident.