On December 18, 2021, at 1:27 a.m., an East District General Patrol unit was in the area of Hespeler Avenue and Beatrice Street when they observed a stolen truck travelling nearby. In addition, the vehicle was later determined to have stolen licence plates on it.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the stolen vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. Soon after, at 1:31 a.m., the truck was located abandoned in the area of Sinclair Street and Caruthers Avenue.
Members of the K9 Unit attended and tracked to the 700 block of Bannerman Avenue, where a male suspect was attempting to hide after climbing a tree and a roof of a residence. The male was arrested, and a key to the stolen truck was located on him.
Officers subsequently seized two cans of bear spray – one from the area where the male was arrested and another left in the stolen truck.
The truck had been taken from the Munroe West neighbourhood during the morning of December 13, 2021, after it had been left running. The licence plates had been stolen from a truck in the Spence neighbourhood on December 17, 2021.
Douglas Bruce Smith, a 36-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (x2)
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order (x2)
- Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Release Order (x7)
He was detained in custody.