News briefs for Monday, August 11, 2025

Another candidate enters Elmwood-East Kildonan race

4:25 PM

A sixth candidate has registered to become the city councillor for Elmwood-East Kildonan in the Oct. 25 byelection.

Braydon Mazurkiewich wrote on his campaign website that he is committed to fighting for replacing the aging Louise Bridge — which is temporarily closed — and scrapping the new Winnipeg Transit system. He announced his candidacy in a news release Monday.

Mazurkiewich, who volunteered on Glen Murray’s mayoral campaign in 2022, has previously described himself as a political and marketing consultant. He works as an automotive finance broker.

The other candidates are Emma Durand-Wood, Abel Gutierrez, Carmen Prefontaine, Kyle Roche and Zekaria Selahadin. The new councillor will replace Jason Schreyer, who died in April.

Man drowns in lagoon near Keeseekoowenin First Nation 

2:48 PM

A Shoal Lake man was found drowned in a lagoon after Keeseekoowenin First Nation security tried to stop a vehicle he was driving.

RCMP said Monday that security tried to stop the man in that community at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, but the driver sped off. Security found the vehicle near the lagoon later that night.

The man was reported missing to Elphinstone RCMP at 4:20 p.m. Thursday, and searchers found him in the lagoon at 8:40 p.m., police said.

Three candidates will be on Spruce Woods byelection ballot

2:36 PM

Spruce Woods voters will have three candidates to choose from when advance voting for the byelection in the western Manitoba constituency begins Saturday.

Nominations have closed. The candidates are Ray Berthelette of the NDP, Stephen Reid of the Liberals and Colleen Robbins of the Progressive Conservatives. Berthelette is a former real estate agent who recently worked as an executive assistant to cabinet minister Glen Simard. Reid is a teacher, and Robbins is a longtime PC volunteer.

The byelection is being held to replace Grant Jackson, who resigned in March to run for federal office. The seat is a longtime Tory stronghold, with the PCs capturing more than 60 per cent of the vote in the 2023 general election.

Advance voting will take place in nine communities on various dates until Aug. 25. Election day is Aug. 26.

— with files from The Canadian Press

Man bites off-duty officer: Winnipeg police

2:14 PM

Police say a man bit an off-duty officer while trying to break into a garage in St. Vital on Sunday.

The Winnipeg Police Service said two retail stores on the 1200 block of St. Mary’s Road reported between shortly before 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. that items worth more than $1,000 in total had been stolen.

The off-duty officer saw a man allegedly trying to get into the detached garage on the 100 block of Sterling Avenue shortly before 5:40 p.m. and tried to arrest him. The officer did not require medical attention, the WPS said in a news release Monday.

On-duty officers took the man into custody. The stolen property was recovered and returned to the stores.

A 36-year-old man has been charged with break-and-enter with intent, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, possession of break-in tools and theft under $5,000. He was detained in custody.

Possible shooting in RM of North Norfolk

1:51 PM

Police are investigating after shots were reportedly fired into a house and camper on a rural property early Saturday.

Portage la Prairie RCMP were sent to the home near the intersection of Road 58 West and Road 67 North, in the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk, at about 7:30 a.m. A resident told officers they believed a bullet was shot through the house’s front window.

No one was hurt, and no bullets were found on the property, police said in a news release Monday.

RCMP asked anyone with video possibly related to the investigation to contact the Portage detachment at 204-857-4445, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.

Gun, drugs seized after traffic infraction

11:59 AM

Police seized a handgun and drugs after the driver of an SUV allegedly sped away after ignoring a red light.

Officers were patrolling in the West End when they saw a 2011 Nissan Rogue idling at a stop sign at the corner of Agnes Street and St. Matthews Avenue at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday.

The driver later failed to stop at the light at Maryland Street and Portage Avenue and sped away when officers tried to stop the SUV, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday.

The vehicle stopped in front of a home on the 1300 block of Alexander Avenue. Police arrested two men in the area a short time later.

Police found a loaded .45-calibre handgun with an obliterated serial number in the SUV, and 2.9 grams of cocaine and 1.9 grams of crack cocaine, the WPS said. Smaller amounts of cocaine and crack had been discarded nearby, the WPS said, adding the total street value of the drugs is an estimated $320.

One of the men had nearly $900 in cash on him, police said.

Two men, ages 20 and 21, have been charged with multiple offences. Both were detained in custody.

Police use Taser on knife-wielding man

11:37 AM

Police used a Taser on a man who allegedly held a knife while approaching officers amid a large party on Roseau River First Nation.

The Manitoba First Nations Police was told on Aug. 2 about an adult reportedly providing alcohol to young people at a party at his home.

Officers went there and were met by “a crowd of people causing a huge disturbance,” the MFNPS said in a news release Monday.

Police tried to speak to the homeowner, and he refused to drop the knife after being told to do so “numerous times,” the MFNPS said.

The man was arrested for assault and later released from custody.

Blaze destroys Winnipeg home, injures firefighter

8:38 AM

A River Park South home was destroyed in a Sunday night fire that also left a firefighter injured.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said crews were sent to a home on Southwalk Bay at about 7:40 p.m. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from spreading, and evacuated a neighbouring home.

The fire was declared under control shortly before 9:30 p.m. The injured firefighter was treated at the scene.

One home is considered a total loss, while another sustained damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.