News briefs for Sunday, April 26, 2026

Man arrested after standoff in St. Vital

3:03 PM

A 41-year-old man who had several protection orders against him has been arrested after a short standoff with the Winnipeg Police Service’s tactical unit.

The suspect barricaded himself inside a St. Vital residence when police showed up to arrest him on charges of violating protection orders by sending emails to protected individuals. Police believed the suspect had access to a gun and said he had also posted “concerning comments toward police” on social media.

He’s accused of sending the emails on April 24. The next day at about 3:10 p.m., police, including West District General Patrol officers, the tactical support unit, police drone, K9 unit and crisis negotiation unit, responded to the suspect’s residence in the 1-99 block of Sadler Avenue.

After extensive negotiation, the suspect exited the residence and was arrested at about 5:05 p.m.

Graeme Havens is charged with seven counts of disobeying a court order. He was detained in custody.

Unprovoked assault at St. Vital intersection leads to criminal charge

2:05 PM

A man has been arrested after a pedestrian was allegedly assaulted by a panhandler in St. Vital Saturday morning.

The 43-year-old male victim was standing at the intersection of Abinojii Mikanah and St.Mary’s Road at about 11 a.m. April 25 when a suspect, who police say was panhandling at the time, approached the victim and assaulted him. The assault was unprovoked, the Winnipeg Police Service stated in a news release Sunday. The suspect tried to steal the victim’s cellphone but was unsuccessful before he fled the area.

The victim had minor injuries and didn’t need medical attention. A suspect was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday by officers who were called to the intersection on a separate report of panhandling. At that time, the assault suspect was recognized and arrested.

Daniel Ryan Smith, 41, is charged with assault and was detained in custody.

Man arrested after shots fired

1:04 PM

A 23-year-old man has been charged with firing a gun into the air in the North End Saturday afternoon.

Police say a suspect “indiscriminately” fired two bullets into the air while he was walking with a group of people around Main Street at Euclid Avenue at about 4:30 p.m. April 25. Police arrested a suspect in a yard in the 200 block of Austin Street North. Officers located and seized a sawed-off, 12-gauge shotgun on the suspect’s person.

Damon Wyatt Mallett has been charged with several weapons offences, including discharging a firearm in a reckless manner. He has been detained in custody.

Selkirk house fire likely caused by smoking

11:37 AM

An accidental house fire likely caused by smoking broke out in the 300 block of Selkirk Avenue Saturday night.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews responded to the two-and-a-half-storey home at 10:03 p.m. as smoke billowed from the building April 25. Crews attacked the blaze and declared the fire under control at 10:36 p.m.

No one was hurt; all occupants got out safely before firefighters arrived. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team was deployed to help people displaced by fire, the Fire Paramedic Service stated in a news release Sunday.

No damage estimates were available but crews’ preliminary findings indicated the fire was accidental, likely caused by smoking.