News briefs for Monday, July 17, 2023

Jets lock up Barron for two years

9:20 AM

Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron has agreed to a new two-year contract with the NHL team, with an annual salary cap hit of  US$1,350,000.

Barron, 24, played 70 games for Winnipeg in 2022-23 and set single-season career highs in goals (8), assists (13), points (21), and penalty minutes (31).

The Halifax product was aquired by the Jets as part of the Andrew Copp trade to the New York Rangers in March 2022.

Barron made headlines in April after he needed over 75 stitches to close a gash to his face after he was cut by now-teammate Laurent Brossoit’s skate blade in a playoff game. Brossoit was in goal for Vegas at the time.

Lawler to join the Bombers this week

12:06 PM

Kenny Lawler is finally ready to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The CFL team said today the all-star receiver will be at practice Tuesday and play Thursday when the Edmonton Elks come to town.

Lawler has yet to play a game this season as he worked with Canadian immigration officers to obtain a working visa after he pleaded guilty to a 2021 impaired driving charge back in April.

Lawler signed a two-year deal over the offseason.

The Blue Bombers (4-2) host the Elks (0-6) at 7:30 p.m. at IG Field.

Barron to replace Wheeler as Jets rep at Manitoba Open

1:07 PM

Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron will be teeing it up next month at the Manitoba Open.

The 24-year-old forward from Nova Scotia, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday, will be competing against the top players on the PGA Tour Canada on a sponsor’s exemption.

Blake Wheeler was originally given the spot, but the former captain was bought out by the Jets this summer and has since signed with the New York Rangers.

Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor have previously played in the golf tournament, which will be held Aug. 17-20 at Southwood.

Man stabbed in Selkirk

1:30 PM

A 24-year-old man is in hospital after being stabbed multiple times in Selkirk on Saturday.

Selkirk RCMP said on Monday the man was rushed to a Winnipeg hospital where he is being treated for serious non-life threatening injuries.

RCMP said the man was found injured on the front lawn of a Sinclair Street residence at about 3 a.m. Officers believe a group of people were seen in the area with the man just before he was found injured.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Selkirk RCMP at 204-482-1222 or leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com

Robber armed with knife robs Selkirk business

3:27 PM

A man armed with a knife and wearing a mask threatened store employees before running off  with cash and cigarettes in Selkirk on Friday.

Selkirk RCMP said on Monday they are asking for the public’s help in finding a suspect.

RCMP said the suspect walked into the Morris Street business at about 10:30 a.m., and threatened the employees before fleeing on foot with money and cigarettes.

The same suspect entered another business on Main Street but left when they saw there were several customers there.

The suspect is described as male, wearing a light-coloured hoodie with a black long sleeve shirt over it with ECKO UNLTD 1972 emblazoned on it, with a red mask on his face and orange beanie on his head.

Anyone with information is asked to call Selkirk RCMP at 204-482-2222 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Two men arrested after beer vendor robbery

3:54 PM

Two men have been arrested after robbing a Winnipeg beer vendor and being pursued by police to East St. Paul and back.

Winnipeg police said a man in his twenties was robbed by two suspects at a beer vendor in the 1000 block of McPhillips St., on Saturday at about 1 a.m.

The victim was physically assaulted by the pair and a gun was pointed at him but it didn’t fire when the trigger was pulled.

The pair sped off in a vehicle and shot out a windshield of a parked vehicle in the Mynarski neighbourhood more than 12 hours later at 1:30 p.m.

Police spotted them at Mountain Avenue and Arlington Street at about 3 p.m., but the suspects took off at a high rate of speed, hitting a parked car and continuing to drive on only three wheels.

The suspects abandoned the damaged vehicle in East St. Paul, tossed two firearms in a retention pond, and stole another vehicle and headed back to Winnipeg. A dive team has recovered the firearms.

After colliding with a vehicle on Main Street and Hartford Avenue, they hit a parked pick up truck which left their vehicle undriveable. Shortly after trying to steal another vehicle, they were arrested.

The pair are facing numerous firearm, robbery and driver-related offences and have been detained in custody.

Boy, 12, arrested after teen robbed with machete

4:21 PM

A 12-year-old boy is facing charges for his alleged role in the machete-point robbery of a teen near Spence Street and Cumberland Avenue last week.

Winnipeg police patrol officers were called to the reported robbery with a weapon at about 4:45 p.m. on July 14, where they were told two boys confronted a 17-year-old male they knew. A 16-year-old girl with the victim tried to intervene but was assaulted, police say.

Police say the two youths then brandished a machete and demanded the victim’s property. He handed it over, but was slashed in the face, causing serious injuries. Police say he was hospitalized in unstable condition and upgraded to stable condition.

A 12-year-old youth was arrested on the 600 block of Langside Street, where officers recovered the victim’s property. The youth will be charged with robbery, aggravated assault and assault. He was released on an undertaking into the custody of adults.

Major crimes police are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to call the unit at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.