Winnipeg Police: Man jumps out of parking garage during foot chase, arrested

A Winnipeg man is accused of coercing a woman to buy him a gun after his release from prison, sexually exploiting her, robbing a man at knifepoint, shooting another man and jumping out of a downtown parking garage as police tried to arrest him this month.

According to Winnipeg police, officers began investigating earlier this month after a man was released from an Edmonton prison and travelled to Winnipeg against the conditions of his release.

Investigators said that while in custody, he contacted a woman in Winnipeg and forced her to apply for a possession and acquisition licence in order to purchase a gun. Once back in Winnipeg, he arranged to meet with her and tricked her into purchasing a .22 GSG16 semi-automatic rifle and ammunition, giving her the money to do so. Once the purchase was completed, the suspect took control of the gun.

Police allege the man sexually exploited the woman, soliciting her to offer sexual services online and give him money for them. They said the woman was forcibly confined, physically assaulted, monitored and threatened.

On August 27, the suspect allegedly shot a 48-year-old man he knew in the lower body at noon in the back alley of the 200 block of Young Street. The man was taken to the hospital in unstable condition, but his condition was later upgraded to stable.

Two hours later, the suspect was seen in the area of ​​Carlton Street and Graham Avenue. A foot chase began, with the suspect running to a multi-story parking garage in the 200 block of Graham Avenue.

“To evade arrest, the suspect jumped approximately 30 feet from an upper level of the parking garage, injuring himself in the process,” police said. “Officers arrested him without further incident before he was transported to the hospital and treated for injuries sustained in the jump.”

Police seized $800 in cash and 9.5 grams of fentanyl from the suspect.

Police also determined that the man was involved in a robbery at a restaurant in the 1400 block of Ellice Avenue on August 11, where he allegedly attempted to rob a 51-year-old man at knifepoint.

A 28-year-old Winnipeg man was charged with robbery, obstructing a police officer and several firearms offences. He was taken into custody.