Police watchdog probes facial fractures on suspect

Manitoba’s police watchdog is looking into an incident where a man was left with facial fractures while in custody of Steinbach RCMP.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said in a news release it was notified Tuesday by Steinbach RCMP about the incident, which happened Friday afternoon.

At roughly 4:35 p.m. officers were called to a cell block at the Steinbach RCMP detachment where a man in custody had covered his camera with a wet blanket and had an “edged weapon” in his pants, said the IIU.

The IIU news release said police told the man to get on his knees, to drop the weapon and to turn around to be handcuffed, but he refused, clenching his fists and failing to turn over the blade.

Police then took the man to the ground, where he refused further commands, and was struck in the face, said the IIU.

The man then complained of pains in his face and was transported to the Bethesda Regional Health Centre, and eventually Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, where it was determined he had facial fractures and was referred to a plastic surgeon.

The IIU says its investigation is ongoing.