News briefs for Monday, May 26, 2025

Another fire at Magnus Avenue house

3:42 PM

Crews extinguished a fire at a Magnus Avenue house for the second time in two months early Monday.

Firefighters were sent to the boarded-up, one-and-a-half storey house on the 400 block at 4:24 a.m. and declared the fire under control at 4:42 a.m.

The structure — which sustained significant smoke, fire and water damage Monday — was damaged in a fire on the evening of April 18. It was unoccupied at the time.

Taser used on fleeing, handcuffed male

2:55 PM

Police say an officer used a Taser on a cyclist they had stopped for disobeying traffic laws and handcuffed after spotting a weapon.

Officers stopped the male on the 500 block of Spence Street shortly before 6 p.m. Friday and saw “an edged weapon sticking out of his pocket.”

They arrested and handcuffed the male, who broke free and ran away while being taken to a police cruiser.

The male ran through the intersection of Young Street and Sargent Avenue, was “grazed” by a vehicle and stumbled but did not fall, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday.

An officer used a Taser on the male to “prevent him from serious injury” as he “continued to run in and out of traffic,” the release said.

The man fell to the ground. He was transported to hospital and treated for two hairline fractures to his lower jaw and a laceration on his chin.

“The male was in possession of tools and weapons, including bear spray,” the WPS said.

He is facing 15 charges related to weapons, fleeing police and breaches.

The province’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, asked witnesses or anyone with video that might help investigators to call 1-844-667-6060.

City to sell underused vehicles, expects to save $700K 

2:43 PM

The City of Winnipeg expects to save nearly $700,000 on its fleet this year after a review found 71 vehicles were underused.

The vehicles “have been identified and returned. A small number will be retained and repurposed for internal rentals — eliminating the need for more costly external vehicle rentals,” a news release noted.

The city predicts the changes will save $359,171 on operating costs and $72,987 on rentals, while raising at least $241,104 from vehicle sales, leading the city to save $673,262 so far. The city originally expected to save $500,000 through the effort.

The mayor said some vehicles might no longer be needed in some departments because of changing job tasks, while others might be shared by a greater number of staff members.

More highways open in Whiteshell Provincial Park amid wildfire

12:43 PM

The province has reopened more roads in Whiteshell Provincial Park after shuttering them because of nearby wildfires.

Highway 307 from Highway 11 at Seven Sisters to Betula Lake has reopened to all traffic.

Highway 301 from the Trans-Canada Highway at Falcon Lake to the underpass is open to local traffic only.

Highway 44 from the Trans-Canada Highway at West Hawk Lake to Rennie, Highway 301 from the Trans-Canada Highway underpass to Highway 44 at West Hawk Lake, and Highway 307 from Betula Lake to Highway 44 at Rennie remain closed.

Suspects sought in Dauphin robbery

11:57 AM

RCMP are searching for two males who robbed a Dauphin business at gunpoint.

Police were sent to the Main Street business at about 5 a.m. Saturday. They were told two males, one armed with a long gun, stole cigarettes and fled.

Both were wearing black-and-white bandanas on their faces, black hooded jackets and green rubber gloves.

Officers searched the area but could not find the males.

RCMP asked anyone with information about the robbery to contact the Dauphin detachment at 204-622-5020, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.

Police release homicide victim’s name

11:13 AM

Police have publicly identified the homicide victim found injured on Cumberland Avenue early Friday.

The Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday that the man was Ralph Moise, a 39-year-old Sayisi Dene First Nation member living in Tadoule Lake.

Officers were sent to the 300 block of Cumberland at about 1 a.m. and found Moise on the ground. He was transported to hospital and died there.

The WPS asked anyone with information about the killing to contact its homicide unit at 204-986-6508, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or online.

Private prosecution over horse shipment adjourned

11:09 AM

A private prosecution over a shipment of live horses from a Manitoba farm to Japan was adjourned in provincial court Monday.

Animal-rights organizations took the rare step of obtaining judicial approval to privately prosecute Swan River-area horse exporter Carolyle Farms over a Dec. 12, 2022 shipment by air of horses, which the animal-rights organizations allege unlawfully exceeded the 28-hour time limit under federal legislation that live horses are allowed to be in transport without food and water.

The animals were shipped to Japan, where horse meat is sold raw as a culinary delicacy. The horses are fattened there for slaughter.

The farm’s defence lawyer, Lindsay Mulholland, successfully argued for an adjournment in front of provincial court Judge Stacy Cawley after she received late disclosure from the private prosecutor last week and Sunday night.

Further trial dates are to be set next month.

Park project set to start this week

11:04 AM

Work on improvements at John Forsyth Park in south St. Vital is expected to start this week.

The improvements include new fitness equipment, a paved path and an outdoor classroom to serve area residents and students from nearby École Christine-Lespérance.

The work is set to be completed in August.

The project cost is $859,000. The provincial, city and federal governments are providing $300,000, $250,000 and $200,000 each, respectively. Several non-government organizations are providing the rest of the funds.

Province gives funds to expand Virden’s airport

10:45 AM

The province is providing $1.65 million to upgrade Virden’s airport.

The upgrades will allow for greater capacity and capabilities for commercial operators, medical transfer flights and STARS air ambulance.

Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard made the announcement at a news conference at Virden Regional Airport on Monday.

Qualico gives RRC Polytech $1.25M

10:29 AM

Qualico is donating $1.25 million to Red River College Polytech to support trades students and Indigenous students seeking to learn a trade.

The program expands capacity in RRC Polytech’s introduction to trades program, which helps Indigenous students gain direct entry into the trades program of their choice.

The funds will also be used for 10 annual awards of $5,000 each for construction trades students.

Employee bear-sprayed at Dollarama on Dakota Street

9:54 AM

Two teens are facing charges after a store employee was bear-sprayed during a robbery incident Sunday.

The Free Press has learned the store is the Dollarama at 785 Dakota St. Officers were sent to the store at 7:25 p.m. and arrested suspects nearby.

Police were told several youths tried to leave without paying and that one sprayed a staff member who intervened. 

 A 17-year-old male is facing charges of robbery, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon, while a 13-year-old girl is facing a robbery charge.  

A 15-year-old boy was released and is not facing charges.