On June 1, 2023, at approximately 8:40 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the area of St. Anne’s Road and Meadowood Drive for the report of a robbed person.
General Patrol Officers from the East District attended and located a 16-year-old male victim suffering from the effects of bear spray. With the assistance of Good Samaritans nearby, officers observed three male suspects running southbound in the 600 block of St. Anne’s Road and engaged in a foot pursuit. Two other yet-to-be-identified victims were sprayed but left the area before the police arrived.
During the arrests, one of the suspects became combative and threatened to kill officers. One of the officers deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser), and all three suspects were safely placed under arrest. Officers recovered and seized a canister of bear spray and a knife as evidence.
The Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation and learned the same suspects were believed to be involved in an earlier reported robbery in front of a retail business in the 1200 block of St. Mary’s Avenue. Investigators learned the suspects confronted a 19-year-old male employee of a retail business, repeatedly deployed bear spray to his upper body, and stole the business’s cash register before fleeing on foot. The victim was assessed and medically cleared by members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.
Investigators determined the suspects subsequently attended the area of St. Anne’s Road and Meadowood Drive, where they approached the 16-year-old victim and robbed him of property at knifepoint. The suspects bear-sprayed three victims before fleeing on foot, and the police were contacted.
The suspects and the victims were not previously known to one another.
A 14-year-old male from Winnipeg is facing the following charges:
- Robbery x 2
- Assault with a Weapon x 2
- Possession of a Weapon
- Uttering Threats – Cause Death or Bodily Harm
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Release Order
He was detained in custody.
A 15-year-old male from Winnipeg is facing the following charges:
- Robbery x 2
- Assault with a Weapon x 2
He was released on an Undertaking as mandated by the Criminal Code.
A 17-year-old male from Winnipeg is facing the following charges:
- Robbery x 2
- Assault with a Weapon x 2
- Possession of a Weapon
He was detained in custody.
The Major Crimes Unit continues the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).