The Winnipeg Police Service is giving context to a tweet they sent out on Saturday, stating they were "experiencing heavy call volumes."

A busy weekend for the Winnipeg Police Service began on Friday night, when they received six calls, with five people being sent to the hospital with serious assault wounds.

"The Winnipeg Police Service triages calls on a priority basis. We thank the public for their patience," the WPS says.

In total, police responded to:

  • 72 reports of assault
  • 8 stabbings
  • 14 reports of shots fired
  • 10 gun calls
  • 16 reports of assault with a weapon
  • 36 reports of a weapon

 

On Friday night, police responded to calls including:

  • Two Main Street Project workers were assaulted by a man causing a disturbance. Police say one worker was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face and the victim subsequentially hitting their head on the concrete. This worker remains in hospital. A second worker was also assaulted and punched in the face. The second worker hit the suspect in defence with a chair, breaking the suspect's arm. The suspect was quickly arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault and Assault.
  • In the 500 block of Aberdeen Avenue, an adult man was stabbed and taken to hospital. Police say a woman is in custody.
  • Additionally on Friday night, in the area of Sargent and Sherbrook, police responded to numerous 911 calls, reporting a man armed with a knife trying to stop vehicles. When police arrived, the suspect challenged officers to shoot him. The man was then disarmed and is facing related charges.
  • At 7:40 p.m. in Central Park, an altercation between known individuals resulted in one man being stabbed five times in the upper back and head, and a woman also being slashed at but having no injuries. Police tracked down both parties, and the man was sent to hospital critical condition. The victim is expected to recover.
  • While drinking at a Ross Avenue residence, an argument broke out and one man grabbed a butcher's knife, stabbing the other man in the upper body numerous times. The victim fled to the Women's hospital where responding officers applied a tourniquet and called the WFPS to transport him to hospital. Officers later found and charged the suspect at the same Ross Avenue residence where the fight broke out.
  • A resident on Victor Street was stabbed multiple times by a man and woman after the victim kicked out the two suspects during an argument. The victim was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. The suspects are both facing charges from the WPS. 

On Saturday, police responded to the following calls including:

  • A woman, who is not pressing charges, was robbed of her purse in the area Ellice Avenue and Carlton Street. The woman was approached by another woman who was unknown to her, had her purse snatched from her and was threatened with a box cutter. The suspect then attempted to cut the victim. Patrol units were nearby, ran to assist, and arrested the women who then dropped her box cutter.
  • While at the residence of people a suspect knew on Young Street, an intoxicated female demanded money. When she was refused, she then allegedly unsuccessfully attempted to strike an occupant of the residence. Next, the woman grabbed a sword and began threatening the residents. One man grabbed the sword, suffering cuts to his hands. Police arrived, arresting the woman without incident. 
  • In the 400 block of Selkirk Avenue, a man was reported to be waving a gun around. Police arrived and took the suspect into custody, discovering the man was in possession of a BB gun designed to look like a Beretta pistol.

Authorities are sharing four note-worthy incidents that occurred on Sunday

  • A vehicle travelling 165 km/hour eastbound on Portage Avenue passed a marked RCMP cruiser at 1: 20 a.m. The RCMP officer followed the vehicle by car, locating it at Portage and Cavalier rolled over on its roof. The RCMP officer then pulled the driver out of the vehicle and was transported to the hospital in unstable condition where he was then later upgraded. The driver is being charged with impaired driving.
  • Main Street Project was subject to another incident on Sunday. A man began kicking at the door, damaging it in the process. Once gaining access to the building, the man produced a knife. The suspect then left and arrested by responding officers.
  • A man, appearing to be armed with a gun or knife, was in the 1000 block of Main Street. 911 callers said the man was asking people nearby for methamphetamine. After being arrested by responding officers, police found a knife in the suspect's waistbelt.