Police watchdog investigating after man critically injured during arrest

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after a man fell and was critically injured following an armed and barricaded incident in St. Boniface on Thursday night.

City police arrived at an apartment suite on the 200 block of Bertrand Street at 7:23 p.m., after receiving reports that a man in his 60s was armed with an edged weapon and suicidal, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday.

Officers tried to communicate with the man through the suite door, but he refused to come out and threatened to kill himself. The man was barricaded for about two hours, before he exited the suite and was taken into custody, WPS said.

“He was placed in handcuffs for safety. As he was being led down the apartment staircase, he broke free from the officers and fell down the stairs. Police provided emergency medical care and requested an ambulance,” a release said.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba confirmed it was contacted by WPS and launched an investigation because the man was seriously injured.

In a separate release, the IIU said the man was taken to hospital in critical condition and treated for a possible traumatic brain injury.

WPS said his condition has not improved.

Witnesses or people with information or video footage that may help investigators are asked to contact the IIU at 1-844-667-6060.