Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has referred two investigations to the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) following the death of one man and serious injury to another during two unrelated incidents.
According to WPS Chief Danny Smyth, officers were called to a residence in the 200 block of Fairlane Avenue for a domestic dispute shortly after midnight on Saturday, January 27, 2024. A female caller told 911 operators that her boyfriend was intoxicated and she was worried about her toddler and two other infant children who were also in the suite.
Police say that yelling and commotion in the background could be heard along with reports that windows were being smashed.
As officers responded to the call the female contacted operators again to say that her boyfriend had fallen down a set of stairs from the second floor and was laying in the snow. Officers found the man in a nearby parking lot and placed him in handcuffs. As the officers were escorting the man to their patrol unit the man became unresponsive. Paramedics were called and the man was taken to hospital.
Smyth said during a media conference on Sunday, January 28, 2024 that the man had died overnight.
Due to the death following police interaction, the IIU is mandated by legislation to take over the investigation and determine the cause of the man’s death.
The second incident that was referred to the IIU involves a male with an axe in the area of Garden City Shopping Centre on Friday evening, January 26, 2024.
Chief Smyth said that the man had stabbed a cab driver then stole the vehicle. Nearby officers were able to stop the stolen cab and the suspect driver attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody a short distance away.
Once the suspect was in custody he complained of an injury to his ankle. The man was taken to hospital and examined. Medical staff determined the man had a fracture.
As a fracture is considered a serious injury the IIU is mandated to investigate.
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