News briefs for Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Lord of the Dance sashays at the Burt Nov. 1

9:47 AM

Irish dance impresario Michael Flatley will mark the 25th anniversary of his show Lord of the Dance at the Burton Cummings Theatre Nov. 1.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. at ticketmaster.ca, although a presale is scheduled for Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. Prices start at $39.50 plus fees.

Flatley began his career in 1995 by creating Riverdance before launching Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger touring shows. Lord of the Dance has been seen by more than 60 million people around the world in the past quarter-century.

The anniversary production promises new staging, costumes, choreography as well as upgraded special effects and lighting.

RCMP seize 121 guns from Wawanesa home

9:49 AM

Federal RCMP weapons investigators and officers from the Killarney detachment seized 121 firearms and a functioning antique cannon from a home in Wawanesa last month.

RCMP say officers also seized several thousand rounds of ammunition, loaded magazines and three sets of body armour, as well as firearms manufacturing equipment, when they executed a warrant on the home on July 20.

Mounties say of the guns seized, 62 were long guns and 55 were handguns. Fifty-three were non-restricted, 53 restricted, four prohibited but were purchased when it was legal to do so, six were antiques, and five were receivers.

A 38-year-old man, who was arrested and released on a promise to appear in court, will be charged with unsafe storage of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place and losing a firearm. Mounties say they may lay further charges as officers continue investigating.

Mounties will display the seized guns to the press at RCMP headquarters on Tuesday morning.

Green Party leader to run in Wolseley

10:20 AM

The leader of Manitoba’s Green Party will run in Wolseley in the Oct. 3 provincial election.

The party announced Tuesday that Janine Gibson, an environmental activist and organic production consultant, who took over the reins of the party in March, will be on the ballot in the Winnipeg constituency.

Wolseley has been represented by New Democrat Lisa Naylor since 2019.

Two arrested in West Broadway slaying

10:28 AM

Winnipeg homicide detectives have arrested two suspects accused in the stabbing death of a man in a West Broadway alley early Saturday.

The 50-year-old man, since identified as George Nickolas Demos, was found unresponsive by Winnipeg police in the lane behind the 200 block of Furby Street at about 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, police said. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Homicide detectives arrested Jonathan Michael Gladue, 23, later that day. He’s been charged with second-degree murder. They’ve also arrested a 17-year-old boy, who will be charged with second-degree murder.

Homicide investigators ask anyone with information on the incident, or video surveillance footage in the area, to call the unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Woman knocked unconscious in random Portage Avenue robbery

11:45 AM

A 32-year-old woman was knocked unconscious with a piece of road debris on Portage Avenue near the Sturgeon Creek area in what police think was a random robbery Sunday night.

Police found the woman on the 3200 block of Portage Avenue at about 10:10 p.m. She was rushed to hospital in stable condition and treated.

Police say the suspect got on a city bus before officers arrived, with the victim’s property, but the driver pulled over at Portage and Rouge Road, where police arrested the suspect.

Twanette Ann Scott, 27, is charged with robbery and mischief over $5,000. She remains in custody.

Boy, 15, killed by sawed-off shotgun blast

1:40 PM

A 15-year-old boy was killed when another boy “carelessly pointed” a sawed-off shotgun at three youths on Saturday night.

The incident happened in the Jefferson neighbourhood at about 8:15 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

The WPS said some teenagers, including the 16-year-old accused, were socializing at one of their homes. The boy brought a sawed-off shotgun, the WPS said.

He pointed the gun at three of the youths, and one of the youths was killed when the shotgun fired.

The gun was recovered, and the WPS major crimes unit is investigating.

A 16-year-old Winnipeg boy was arrested Tuesday and has been charged with manslaughter, three counts of pointing a firearm and four other firearms-related charges.

He was detained in custody.

Two killed in separate ATV crashes

2:45 PM

Two people are dead after separate all-terrain vehicle crashes.

The second crash happened at the intersection of Road 53 North and Road 39 East in the Rural Municipality of Taché at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

RCMP said a four-wheeled ATV driven by a 25-year-old Landmark man was driving on Road 53 North when he tried to make a turn and lost control.

The ATV rolled, and the man was thrown from the vehicle. The man, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The first crash happened on the main road in Pukatawagan at about 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 2. RCMP said the driver — a 21-year-old woman — lost control, and the vehicle rolled.

The driver and two passengers — women ages 32 and 21 — were thrown onto the road.

The three women were transported to the community’s nursing station, where both 21-year-olds were treated and released with minor injuries, RCMP said.

The older passenger was flown to Winnipeg, where she died from her injuries Friday.

None of the three people were wearing helmets, RCMP said.

Man dies during arrest

3:09 PM

The Independent Investigation Unit is investigating after a man died while being arrested by city police.

The IIU said Winnipeg Police Service officers were sent to the area of Kinbrace Bay and McLeod Avenue at about 1 p.m. Monday after multiple 911 calls were made about a man with a weapon behaving erratically.

The male retreated to a house in the 500 block of Oakland Avenue and was taken into police custody.

The IIU said police were concerned for the man’s health and requested medical help from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. The male became unresponsive while police were waiting for WFPS members to arrive, the IIU said in a news release Tuesday.

The man was transported to Health Sciences Centre in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

The IIU is investigating and is asking anyone with information about the incident or video of what happened to call the unit toll-free at 1-844-667-6060.

Explosion at agricultural plant prompts evacuation

4:15 PM

A sulphur explosion at an agricultural facility in MacGregor, Man. prompted the evacuation of nearby residents on Tuesday afternoon.

An evacuation notice was issued by the Municipality of North Norfolk just before 2 p.m. and lifted about two hours later.

According to the municipality, the explosion happened at the Shur-Gro Farm Services facility at 123 South Railway St. E. 

Emergency personnel and vehicles remain on scene, according to the municipality.

Portage la Prairie RCMP responded to the scene. No injuries have been reported and homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure, according to police.