In a wave of criminal activity that spanned just one hour, the Winnipeg Police Service received multiple reports of armed robberies within the River Heights/Corydon and Polo Park neighbourhoods on the evening of November 15. Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., five separate incidents were reported, all involving a male suspect armed with a handgun and a strikingly similar description.
The crime spree began on Wellington Crescent at Cordova where a masked suspect confronted a male jogger and demanded money. The victim managed to escape unharmed and alerted the police.
Shortly after, a fast-food restaurant employee on Corydon Avenue was threatened by the same suspect, who demanded money and a drink but left empty-handed. This was followed by two gas station hold-ups on Academy Crescent and Ness Avenue, where the suspect successfully obtained cash but left the attendants physically unharmed.
The final robbery occurred at a craft store on St. James Street, where the suspect threatened the employees with a gun and fled with money from the till.
As the suspect attempted to flee on an e-bike, he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of St. James and St. Matthews, which disabled his bike. He then fled on foot but was apprehended nearby on Madison Avenue. The suspect was arrested and transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries from the collision. A C02 pistol, used in the robberies, was seized by the police.
A 17-year-old male from Winnipeg has been charged with 16 offences, including five counts of robbery, five counts of disguise with intent, five counts of using an imitation firearm during the commission of an indictable offence, and possession of a weapon. He remains in custody.
This series of events highlights the ongoing efforts by the Winnipeg Police Service to address and respond swiftly to violent crimes within the community.
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