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April Media Releases

April 24, 2008

Winnipeg Police Service Media Release
For Immediate Release

Winnipeg Crime Stoppers Introduces Tips On Text

A new text tips program allows reporting of tips to Winnipeg Crime Stoppers safely and anonymously through cell phones and PDA devices.

Winnipeg Crime Stopper's Tips program employs new technology which completely protects identities of text tip informants. Fully interactive, it allows citizens to use text messaging to give crime-solving tips without having to say a word, even providing information about a crime in real time.

With the addition of the new technology, citizens can now submit secure tips to Winnipeg Crime Stoppers three ways: by telephone, WebTips, and now by text messaging.

Winnipeg Crime Stoppers Chair Reg Parkin says: "The increasing use of text messaging now gives Winnipeg Crime Stoppers an additional means of reporting anonymous tips to help fight crime in our city. Today's youth uses text messaging daily. In many cases they are the ones with good information on crime”

“We are very pleased that WebTips has been extremely successful over the past number of months. Our web site (winnipegcrimestoppers.org) also provides tipsters a means to securely leave tips and even digital photos on the site."

Text tipsters are assigned aliases under which to anonymously claim applicable awards.

To send text messages to Winnipeg Crime Stoppers simply text:

“TIP170” at the top of your message to “CRIMES” (274637)

Over 98,000 tips have been received since the inception of Crime Stoppers to Winnipeg in 1984. Over 11,000 cases have been solved and cleared and over $87,000,000 in value of crimes has been recovered. 21 unsolved murders have also been solved. Winnipeg Crime Stoppers is currently ranked number five in the world for value of goods recovered.

Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 for tips that lead to the solution of a crime. Anonymity is guaranteed. Tipsters never have to reveal their identity. The Supreme Court of Canada supports Crime Stoppers protection of tipster’s identity.

For more information contact: Mr. Reg Parkin, Chair Winnipeg Crime Stoppers 941-4087 or Constable Gord Kilcup, Winnipeg Crime Stoppers Police Co-ordinator, 986-5426.

Sexual Assault Suspect – Public’s Assistance Requested

On April 25, 2006 at 3:00 a.m., a twenty-nine year old female was approached by a male on a bicycle that identified himself as “Alex”, in the area of Powers Street and Sutherland Avenue. The male brandished a knife, threatened the victim and forced her into a back lane. The male then physically assaulted the victim and proceeded to commit a serious sexual assault against her. He then left the area on his bicycle. The victim was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The following is a composite drawing provided to the media in conjunction with a media release at the time of the assault.

Suspect

The suspect is described as a male in his early twenties, Aboriginal in appearance, 5’6”-5’8” tall, weighing 160-180 pounds with a stocky or muscular build and was wearing a black hoodie, blue jean shorts and a belt.. He had black hair, dark eyes and was missing an upper right tooth.

* * * * *

On July 21st, 2007 between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., an eighteen year old female was walking in the area of Ellice Avenue and Victor Street where she was approached by a male on a bicycle that identified himself as “Alex”. The male brandished a knife and forced the victim into a back lane. The male then committed a serious sexual assault against the victim and threatened her. He then left the area on his bicycle.

The suspect is described as a clean-shaven male in his late twenties to early thirties, Aboriginal in appearance, 5’8” tall with a medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes. He was wearing dark jeans, a t-shirt and a dark colored baseball cap.

* * * * *

Between 11:00 p.m. on September 24 and 1:00 a.m. on September 25th, a thirty-three year old female was walking in the area of Sargent Avenue near Langside Street and where she was approached by a male riding a bicycle.

The male physically forced the victim to a secluded stairwell in a nearby apartment block in the area of Furby Street and Sargent Avenue, threatened her with a knife and proceeded to commit a serious sexual assault against her. He then physically assaulted her, causing significant injury to her upper body which required medical attention.

The suspect is described as a male in his late thirties, Aboriginal in appearance, 5’8”-5’9” tall with a stocky or chubby build, short and collar-length dark hair. He appeared unkempt and was wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket.

The following is a composite drawing of the male that was provided in a media release at the time of the assault.

Suspect

The ongoing investigations into the sexual assaults by the Winnipeg Police Service Sex Crimes Unit have led investigators to believe that the same individual is responsible for each of the three sexual assaults.

Investigators are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect male. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 986-6245 or CrimeStoppers at 786-TIPS (8477).

Missing Person – Public’s Assistance Requested

The Winnipeg Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a male that has been missing since April 18, 2008.

Sixty-one year old Richard HARDER was last seen on April 18 in the North Main area. He is described as a Caucasian male with a thin build, 5’8” tall, 125 pounds and has short brown hair. He has a hunched back, is missing numerous teeth, wears a patch over his right eye and was last seen wearing a red jacket, blue jeans and runners. He is commonly known as “PATCHES” and is known to frequent the downtown and St. Boniface areas.

HARDER requires daily medication. He has not had the medication for approximately two weeks which may affect his behaviour.

Richard Harder

Richard HARDER

Anyone with information regarding HARDER’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Winnipeg Police Service Missing Persons Unit at 986-6250 or the Winnipeg Police Service non-emergency line at 986-6222.