In April 2022, the Counter Exploitation Unit and the Child Abuse Unit began investigating separate incidents involving the sexual assaults of two teenage females and an adult in her 20s.
Investigators determined that between April and March 2022, an adult male used social media to communicate, lure and subsequently sexually assault the females. He identified himself online as “Eddie Brigance.”
A 42-year-old male, Michael Edward BRUCE, was identified as being involved in these incidents.
On June 27, 2022, BRUCE was arrested. A mobile phone was seized and turned over for forensic analysis.
BRUCE was charged with the following offences:
- Luring a Person Under 18 years of age by Means of Telecommunication
- Obtaining Sexual Services from a Person Under 18 years of age
- Sexual Assault
- Invitation to Sexual Touching
- Makes, Prints, Publishes or Possess for the Purpose of Publication any Child Pornography
- Luring a Person Under 16 years of age by Means of Telecommunication
- Sexual Interference
He was released on a court order prohibiting contact with individuals under 18, as mandated by the Criminal Code.
The investigation continued, and on September 14, 2022, BRUCE was charged with the following additional offences:
- Obtaining Sexual Services from a Person Under 18 years of age
- Sexual Interference
- Sexual Assault x 2
- Invitation to Sexual Touching
He was released on a court order prohibiting contact with individuals under 18, as mandated by the Criminal Code.
This investigation is continuing. Anyone with information or who wishes to speak to an investigator is asked to call the Child Abuse Unit at 204-986-3296 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org
Support resources include WPS Victim Services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631.