Bear-spray attacks in Osborne Village, Exchange

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This article was published 11/07/2025 (260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EIGHT people were bear-sprayed in the span of 30 minutes in two separate incidents in Winnipeg Wednesday morning.

Police say a woman sprayed a driver through the window of their vehicle at the intersection of Stradbrook Avenue and Donald Street at about 7:30 a.m.

Shortly after, the suspect sprayed a woman riding her bicycle in the area of Donald Street and Bell Avenue and a woman waiting for a bus at the corner of River Avenue. A woman walking to her bus stop at River Avenue and Donald Street came across the suspect sitting on the ground and was sprayed.

Two women walking in the area of River Avenue and Mayfair Place witnessed the suspect chasing a person, and both were hit with bear spray by the suspect. It is unknown if the person being chased was sprayed.

Six people were hit with bear spray in the Osborne Village area. Sumayah Lucille Chanelle Cook-Okemow, 20, was arrested and faces six charges of assault, one charge of possession of a weapon and a charge of causing mischief under $5,000. She remains in custody.

Police believe other people may have been harmed and ask anyone with information to call 204-986-2842.

At 8 a.m. the same day, police say a 16-year-old girl near Bannatyne Avenue and Rorie Street confronted two women who were standing nearby and sprayed both women with bear spray.

Neither woman required medical attention.

The suspect was arrested in the 500 block of Main Street shortly after and faces two charges of assault with a weapon, one charge of possession of a weapon, and failing to comply with a sentence order. She remains in custody.