On January 22, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m., members of the Winnipeg Police Service responded to River Avenue and Osborne Street for the report of a carjacking.
Officers from the West District, assisted by K-9 members, were updated that an adult female had robbed a 54-year-old male victim of the taxi vehicle he was operating and fled towards the city's downtown. Officers observed the vehicle driven by the suspect in the area of Young Street and Ellice Avenue and followed the vehicle until it became stranded in a snowbank in the rear lane in the 600 block of Balmoral Street.
The female suspect fled from the vehicle; however, General Patrol officers safely placed the uncooperative and combative female under arrest after a short foot pursuit.
Through their investigation, officers linked the female suspect to a Commercial Robbery which occurred shortly before the carjacking at a restaurant in the 100 block of Osborne Street. Officers learned the suspect demanded food products using a firecracker as coercion. After her demand was not granted, the suspect lit a firecracker inside the crowded premise and fled with a pizza. No injuries were reported.
Officers learned that shortly after that, the suspect attempted to obtain transportation services from the victim but was requested to exit the taxi after becoming belligerent. When the victim exited, the suspect took the opportunity to occupy the driver's seat and robbed him of the vehicle. During the robbery, the victim was dragged approximately ten metres causing upper-body injuries. The victim was transported to hospital in stable condition and received medical treatment.
Ansley Ginell HENDERSON, 31, of Winnipeg, has been charged with the following offences:
- Robbery x 2
- Possession of a Weapon
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Release Order x 2
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Undertaking
She was detained in custody.
This investigation is continuing by members of the Major Crimes Unit. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).