Teens arrested for random, drunken assault

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This article was published 28/02/2021 (2028 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 47-year-old woman was on her way to work Friday night when she was robbed and assaulted by two intoxicated young teenagers at random, police say.

During a Sunday press conference, a public information officer told reporters about a “strong-arm robbery” that took place in Winnipeg’s Meadowood neighbourhood on Friday night.

“This is a crime that’s going to resonate with the community, especially those of the area and it’s very disturbing, especially given the ages of the suspects involved,” said Const. Jay Murray, a public information officer with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Winnipeg Police Service responded to the area of Meadowood Drive and St. Anne’s Road shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, after receiving a report of two people assaulting an adult woman.

Murray said a 14-year-old and 15-year-old from Winnipeg asked the woman for money and when she declined, pushed her to the ground and attempted to steal her purse.

The duo dragged the victim a short distance and then “aggressively assaulted” her, he said.

It was then a male bystander reportedly observed the attack, intervened and pulled one of the suspects from the victim before the teenage girls fled the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital in stable condition and stayed overnight, Murray said.

Meantime, he said authorities found a suspect trying to leave the immediate area and with the help of the canine unit, an additional female and male suspect were tracked to Richfield Avenue and St. Anne’s Road.

All three suspects were taken into custody, but Murray said the 19-year-old male — who was with the other suspects at the time of the assault but did not take part — was released without charges.

The two teenage girls each face four charges, including robbery, assault causing bodily harm, overcoming resistance by attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle another person, and possession or consumption of liquor by a minor.

Murray said the random incident is relatively rare, noting violent crime in Winnipeg generally happens between acquaintances or rival gang members.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie