A man in his 20s has been arrested and charged after a young woman was abducted recently, and police are still searching for a second suspect. 

On November 1, 2021, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Winnipeg Police officers responded to a report of a serious assault that had occurred near the intersection of St. Mary’s Road and Fermor Avenue.

Responding officers spoke to witnesses who related that a female in her twenties had been severely assaulted at a bus stop and subsequently dragged into a waiting vehicle. The witnesses said two people were involved in the crime. One witness attempted to step in and help the woman but was threatened with a knife.

Multiple police resources were deployed as it appeared that the victim had been kidnapped.

Just 40 minutes later, an incident unfolded on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Deacon’s Corner. An adult female jumped out of a moving SUV which was travelling eastbound at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle she jumped out of was heading in the direction of Kenora, Ontario. The SUV stopped to retrieve the woman, but the presence of other vehicles caused the SUV to speed off.

Thankfully, people who saw the incident take place called the RCMP who took the victim to a hospital in Steinbach, Manitoba. She suffered significant injuries and was transferred to a hospital in Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Police Service determined that the two incidents were linked, and that the victim and suspects knew one another. 

Twenty-four hours later, on November 2, members of the Major Crimes Unit and the Tactical Support Team arrested a suspect in Winnipeg.

Twenty-two year-old Joshua Andrew Baker was charged with:

- Aggravated Assault
- Kidnapping
- Utter Threats to Cause Death or Bodily Harm
- Personating a Peace Officer
- Robbery
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order x 2

He is being detained currently. However, WPS is still looking for another suspect, 28-year-old Jason Robert Baker. An arrest warrant has been issued. 

Jason Baker.

Jason Baker is 6’1” in height, 193 lbs. Baker is considered armed and dangerous and is not to be approached. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact investigators at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).