Suspect in two stabbings jumps into river to evade police in Winnipeg

A man accused of two stabbings tried to escape Winnipeg police on Saturday by jumping into the river in Point Douglas.

Police initially responded to a reported stabbing at 8 p.m. in the park at the corner of Portage Avenue and Carlton Street, where officers found a man in his 50s in critical condition, according to a news release Sunday. The man was taken to the hospital and his condition was stabilized.

At 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a second stabbing at the corner of Graham Avenue and Garry Street, where a male victim in his 20s was seriously injured. He was taken to the hospital and is now in stable condition.

According to police, the suspect left the area on a bus and then fled on foot.

Members of the general patrol, tactical support team, K9 unit and AIR1 searched the area before locating the suspect in the river near Point Douglas. He eventually swam back to shore and was taken into custody.

According to police, the accused, a 38-year-old man, and the first victim knew each other and were drinking alcohol. An argument ensued and the victim was stabbed in the upper body.

Two people followed the defendant and confronted him at the second location. One of them was stabbed there, the press release states.

The 38-year-old man from Winnipeg is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and failure to comply with a bond condition in connection with the attacks.

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