News briefs for Friday, November 3, 2023

Charges laid for hunting, fishing offences; Conservation checkstops continue

4:26 PM

During the fall busy season for cross-border hunters returning to the U.S., Manitoba conservation officers are continuing their roadside check stops to guard against violations of hunting, fishing and firearms laws.

Since late August, officers have laid charges for drive-by hunting and issued fines and warnings for violations under the Wildlife Act that included over-fishing of walleye, illegally exporting bear parts and improperly hunting ducks and migratory birds.

The recent incidents include charges against two adults and a youth from Portage la Prairie who were allegedly caught shooting at elk out their vehicle window near Carberry on Aug. 26.

Charges against them include hunting on private land without permission, possessing illegally taken wildlife and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. The trio received a total of $4,536 in fines and $3,000 in restitution, Manitoba Conservation stated in an enforcement update Friday.

The department is advising the public roadside checkstops will continue in “key locations.”

Moyes appointed NDP caucus chairman

2:51 PM

The NDP caucus chose new leaders this week, selecting Riel MLA Mike Moyes as its chairman.

The appointments were announced Friday afternoon.

“These roles will ensure our caucus delivers on fixing health care and addressing affordability concerns impacting Manitobans,” NDP Premier Wab Kinew said in a news release.

Other members appointed to key caucus positions include:

• House leader: Nahanni Fontaine
• Deputy house leader: David Pankratz
• Caucus chair: Mike Moyes
• Deputy chair: Billie Cross
• Caucus whip: Mike Moroz
• Deputy whip: Diljeet Brar.

Missing Grunthal man last heard from in August

1:44 PM

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing Grunthal man.

John Michael Klassen, who also uses the last name Fillmore, was last in contact with his family in August, RCMP said Friday. RCMP were contacted about the missing 49-year-old on Oct. 14.

It is believed he travelled to Ontario during the summer, but his family hasn’t heard from him in a couple of months, RCMP said.

“The investigation has determined that he may be in Ontario, near Mindemoya or M’Chigeeng First Nation,” RCMP said in a news release.

Klassen is 5-9 in height, 170 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is a double leg amputee who uses prosthetic legs, RCMP said.

Klassen is believed to be driving a 2014 black Dodge pickup truck with British Columbia licence plate No. 51036.

RCMP are asking anyone with information on Klassen’s whereabouts to call St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP at 204-433-7908 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Man walking on Trans-Canada Highway struck, killed

12:46 PM

A male was killed when he was hit by a semi-trailer while walking in the middle of a lane on the Trans-Canada Highway on Thursday night.

Blue Hills RCMP were sent to the site in the westbound lanes near Road 115 West, which is located about 10 km west of Brandon in the Rural Municipality of Whitehead, at 8:35 p.m.

They were told a person had been walking in the road. As they were heading to the area, they were told the person had been struck by a westbound semi-trailer.

The unidentified male was pronounced dead at the scene.

The truck driver of the semi, a 25-year-old Regina man, was not hurt, RCMP said Friday afternoon.

RCMP are asking anyone who might have seen the male walking on the highway before the collision to call the Blue Hills detachment at 204-726-7519.

Dauphin RCMP searching for missing teenage girl

9:57 AM

Dauphin RCMP is putting a call out to the public for assistance in finding a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for almost a week.

Keshia-Ann Brandon was reported missing from a residence located on Main Street in Dauphin around 3 p.m. on Oct. 27, police said in a news release Friday.

RCMP said the teenager was last seen two hours prior when she stated she was going to go find a phone and make a call, after which she did not return home.

Keshia-Ann is described as 5’5”, 135 pounds with brown shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a grey sweater and white Nike runners, police said.

Anyone with information about the teen’s whereabouts is asked to call the RCMP detachment at 204-622-5020, make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Man arrested for downtown sex assaults

9:37 AM

City police have arrested and charged a man who was wanted for a series of sexual assault and indecent act incidents that took place in downtown Winnipeg on Halloween.

The Winnipeg Police Service put a call out to the public on Thursday for help in finding a suspect wanted for incidents that happened in the 200 and 500 blocks of Portage Avenue on Tuesday.

“As a result of the investigation by the sex crimes unit, the suspect was identified,” police said in a news release Friday.

Police said the suspect was found by downtown patrol members and arrested Thursday evening.

Moses Bradley Swan, 28, has been charged with seven counts of indecent act and two counts of sexual assault, in addition to robbery and assault. He was detained in custody.