News briefs for Monday, June 26, 2023

Early morning fire on Furby Street

9:17 AM

Fire crews extinguished a fire on Furby Street early Monday.

Firefighters were sent to a two-and-a-half-storey converted residential dwelling in the 500 block of Furby Street at 2:30 a.m. They fought the fire from inside and declared it under control at 3:03 a.m.

All occupants of the building got out safely, and no one was hurt, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team helped displaced residents find temporary accommodations.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Woman sexually assaulted downtown over chocolate sale

9:30 AM

A woman was sexually assaulted downtown after telling a suspect who was selling chocolate she didn’t want to buy any.

Winnipeg police said on Monday a 33-year-old woman was touched in an unwanted sexual manner after she was approached by a man selling chocolate on June 23 at about 4 p.m.

Police said when the woman said she didn’t want to buy any chocolate, the suspect said something inappropriate and then sexually assaulted her by touching,

Police foot patrol members investigated, after being flagged down by the victim, and they located and arrested a 25-year-old man for sexual assault at Graham Avenue and Donald Street.

Justin Medlock gets call to Bombers’ Hall

10:31 AM

One of the most decorated legs in Blue Bombers history, Justin Medlock was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame on Monday.

Medlock, who played four of his nine seasons in the CFL with Big Blue (2016-19),  registered 802 points in Winnipeg (fourth in franchise history), converted a club-best 85.5 per cent of field goal attempts (195 of 228 tries) and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2016, his first season with the team. His 1,535 career points rank 15th in CFL history.

The product of California also had a knack for punting, finishing his career inside the club’s top 10 with an average of 43.8 yards per kick and just six punt singles conceded in 418 attempts.

Medlock will be honoured at the Bombers’ final home game of the season against the Edmonton Elks on Oct. 21.

He is the lone inductee in the Bombers’ class of 2023.

The Book of Mormon returns to concert hall in January

10:39 AM

The Book of Mormon, the hit Broadway musical that lampoons the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, returns to the Centennial Concert Hall for a four-show run Jan. 5-7, 2024.

Single-ticket information will be released in the fall, however Broadway Across Canada, which is presenting the musical’s national tour, is accepting group orders of 10 or more by email at Canada.Groups@BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca or by calling 1-800-889-8457.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the animated TV comedy series South Park, created The Book of Mormon with Broadway songwriter Robert Lopez. It opened in 2011 and won nine Tony Awards, including best musical, and remains one of Broadway’s biggest draws.

Man dies while tubing on Waterhen River

11:40 AM

A man who went missing while tubing on the Waterhen River last week was found dead the next day.

Winnipegosis RCMP were called Thursday night after the 37-year-old man, who had last been seen tubing with a 21-year-old woman, went missing earlier that evening.

The woman was found walking along the shoreline “and did not know the location” of the man, RCMP said Monday.

A witness reported seeing the two tubes tied together floating in the river with no one on them.

A search was conducted, and the body of the man was located in the river Friday afternoon.

Winnipegosis RCMP and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating.

Thompson RCMP searching for missing woman

12:57 PM

RCMP are searching for a missing woman last seen in a home on Nickel Road in Thompson.

Alexis Dick, 26, was reported missing to RCMP on Thursday. Mounties said she hasn’t been seen by her family for some time and that they are concerned for her well-being.

Dick is described as 5-11, with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Thompson RCMP are asking anyone who knows where the missing woman is to call at 204-677-6909/6911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Manitoba adding Crown attorneys to Prosecution Service

1:48 PM

Manitoba is adding 19 more Crown attorneys to its prosecution service.

Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the provincial government will spend $3.4 million to hire 19 new prosecutors, six additional legal staff to support Manitoba Prosecution Services, and six new Crown counsels for the Legal Services Branch.

“The addition of new attorneys will enhance our ability to prosecute serious criminal offences,” Goertzen said in a release. “These new positions, together with our calls for federal changes to the Criminal Code that will make bail harder to achieve for violent and repeat offenders, and our record investments as part of our violent crime strategy, show we are taking meaningful steps to address crime on our streets.”

According to the province, the bolstered roster of Crown attorneys represents the largest single increase in the past 15 years.

An open competition to fill the new positions is underway.

Mistrial declared in murder case

2:18 PM

A mistrial has been declared in the case of a Manitoba man accused of murdering a neighbour caught stealing from him.

Eric Wildman, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the June 7, 2021 killing of 40-year-old Clifford Joseph. Wildman and Joseph lived on neighboring properties near Stead, about 90 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

The trial, which started May 15, was adjourned June 12, due to a medical issue involving defence lawyer Martin Glazer. Jurors returned to court Monday expecting to resume hearing testimony, but were instead told the trial could not proceed.

“Initially it had seemed as though it would be something that wouldn’t necessarily be overly serious, but unfortunately, Mr. Glazer’s health issue has persisted,”  co-defence counsel Mitchell Enright told King’s Bench Justice Rick Saull. ”It is his position he cannot continue acting for Mr. Wildman in this trial in a competent manner.”

Wildman was “not comfortable” proceeding with Enright alone, leaving the defence no option but to request that a mistrial be declared, Enright said.

“In my 30 years as a prosecutor and 13 years as a judge, I have never experienced this,” King’s Bench Justice Rick Saull told the 11-person jury before formally declaring a mistrial. “Sadly, my hands are tied.”

Saull will preside over a new trial. No dates have been set.

Man wanted on gun, drug charges

2:19 PM

RCMP are searching for a man facing multiple gun and drug charges.

Mounties with a search warrant raided a home on Carpathian Street in Fisher Branch late on the night of June 18 and seized five guns — four rifles and a shotgun — “hidden throughout the residence.”

Two of the guns were loaded, RCMP said Monday. Ammunition, a substance believed to be cocaine and drug-trafficking paraphernalia were also seized.

The resident of the home, Bryce Walker, 20, is not legally permitted to possess guns. RCMP have issued a warrant for his arrest. In addition to firearms and drug charges, he is also charged with breaching court-ordered conditions.

Walker is described as 5-5, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos, including a picture of Jesus on his left neck, “RIP T-Dot” on his right neck and a skeletal hand on his left hand.

Fisher Branch RCMP are asking anyone who knows where Walker is to call them at 204-372-6329 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Gas leak closes section of Selkirk Avenue

4:15 PM

Forty buildings have been evacuated and Selkirk Avenue between Main and Salter Streets has been closed after a road construction crew broke a natural gas line on Monday afternoon.

Winnipeg police have closed the street while Winnipeg Fire Paramedic crews told people in 40 buildings between Salter and Charles Street they had to temporarily leave.

Winnipeg Transit has sent buses to act as a sheltered cooling space for impacted residents.

Manitoba Hydro is working to repair the gas line and Selkirk Avenue is expected to reopen sometime tonight.

Whooping cough outbreak ongoing in southern region

4:48 PM

A whooping cough outbreak in southern Manitoba has prompted the provincial government to issue a public notification and urge people to get vaccinated against the respiratory illness.  The outbreak has resulted in 55 emergency-room visits and two admissions to pediatric intensive care.

As of June 23, there were 154 confirmed or probable cases of whooping cough reported in Manitoba this year, all but two of them in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region. Most of the cases are among young children.

In a news release Monday, the provincial government stated the age range of cases includes:

• 30 infants aged one year or younger;
• 80 cases in children aged one to nine;
• 24 cases in children aged 10 to 19; and
• 20 cases in adults.

No deaths have been reported. Whooping cough symptoms start out like a cold, with fever, runny nose and cough, but it causes coughing fits that can make children choke or vomit. The illness is caused by bacteria, and physicians may prescribe antibiotics as treatment. The provincial government is urging caregivers who have questions about immunization to contact their health-care providers or phone HealthLinks toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.