News briefs for Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Sex assault suspect’s photo released

9:22 AM

Winnipeg police have released a photo of a suspect allegedly involved in a sexual assault on a transit bus last month.

Police said on Wednesday the photo came as the result of the continuing investigation by sex crimes unit officers.

A 19-year-old woman was on a Winnipeg Transit bus in the St. Vital area on June 17 when a man she didn’t know sat beside her.

While sitting together the man touched her in an inappropriate sexual manner.

When the woman got off the bus, the man did too, but walked off in another direction.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect to call police at 204-986-2987 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Goalie prospect inks first deal with Jets

11:27 AM

The Winnipeg Jets signed goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis to a three-year, entry-level contract, with a yearly salary cap hit (in the NHL) of $858,333.

DiVincentiis, 19, played 48 games for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario (Junior) Hockey League in 2022-23 and had a 36-9-2 record with five shutouts, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.

He was sensational in the playoffs, going 11-6-3 with a shutout, a 2.41 GAA, and a .926 SV% as North Bay lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference Championship. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound product of Bolton, Ont., was named the OHL goaltender of the year and an OHL first-team All-star Team honours.

He was Winnipeg’s seventh-round pick (207th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Suspect in custody after possible abduction

11:45 AM

A man suspected of abducting a woman in a remote, northern Manitoba community is in police custody.

Mounties from the Cranberry Portage detachment arrested Rory Thomas Wednesday, after a manhunt that lasted roughly one day, RCMP said in a release.

Thomas, 29, was found near Sherridon, located roughly 820 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

He was suspected of abducting 29-year-old Angelica McKay from the community around 6 a.m. Tuesday. McKay was found safe later that day, police said.

Thomas, who was previously considered armed and dangerous, was arrested without incident. Charges against him are pending, police said.

Province holding press conference to address coyote attacks

12:18 PM

The province is hosting a press conference to address recent coyote attacks that left two children injured in Winnipeg.

The conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Covenant Christian Reformed Church, located at 653 Knowles Ave.

A conservation officer will be on-site to address questions about a pair of coyote attacks in the North Kildonan neighbourhood that injured a nine-year-old boy and four-year-old girl in separate incidents less than a week apart.

A provincial news release issued Tuesday said a coyote was captured, euthanized and sent for testing earlier this week. The province did not say if the coyote was believed to be responsible for either of the attacks.

Leaf Rapids evacuees allowed to return home

4:36 PM

Residents of the town of Leaf Rapids have been given the go-ahead to return home after a nearby wildfire that sent the community to Thompson subsided.

Around 350 people left Leaf Rapids June 26 after a 105-square kilometre wildfire struck about eight kilometres away, resulting in state of emergency being declared.

The evacuation order was lifted at 12 p.m. Tuesday, according to the town’s Facebook group, and buses from Thompson to Leaf Rapids began to run at 11 a.m. Wednesday. A provincial spokesperson said community members began arriving in Leaf Rapids earlier today.

“Bus transportation for those who need it are in place and gas vouchers are available to those driving home. An extra round of cheques for meals are available to ensure evacuees are fed until they are settled back in. Information on how to address spoiling of food that was left behind is available,” the spokesperson said in an email.

“Manitoba Families and Manitoba Health are working to ensure that services such as Employment Income Assistance and medical prescriptions are not interrupted as evacuees return home.”

Jets sign Samberg to two-year deal

6:08 PM

The Winnipeg Jets signed defenceman Dylan Samberg to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1,400,000 on Wednesday.

Samberg, 24, was drafted in the second round (43rd overall) by the club in the 2017 NHL Draft. He played 63 games for the Jets last season and recorded eight points (2G, 6A) and 25 penalty minutes. The Hermantown, Minn. native also played all five playoff games for Winnipeg.