Latest news with #BrandonPolice
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Brandon high school sword attack was racially motivated: police chief
The teenage victim of a sword attack in a Manitoba high school is speaking out. Danton Unger has his story. The suspect in a sword attack at a Brandon, Man., high school was targeting people based on race, according to the city's police chief. In a statement, Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said the investigating is 'complex and ongoing.' However, officers have now found a 'significant amount' of evidence that indicates the suspect's political and racial ideologies were motivators of the crime. 'The offender planned the attack and the perpetration of violence against targets chosen specifically based on race — targeting people of colour and immigrants,' he said. 'It was a deliberate, senseless, targeted act of hate. This is disturbing and no one should ever fear for their safety because of the colour of their skin, and no child should be made to feel unsafe in a place of learning.' Bates went on to say that he has 'no doubt' that the combination of the school division's emergency planning, the relationship between students and school liaison officers, and the speedy response of police helped to prevent mass casualties. 'It is clear that there remains work to do to further enhance and improve safety within Brandon schools and we will continue working with our partners in education, mental health, and community organizations to ensure that our schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for everyone,' he said. Bates' remarks come after a 16-year-old student at Neelin High School was arrested and charged last week with attempted murder after he allegedly brought a sword to school and attacked another student. The charges have not been proven in court. The victim, Chinonso Onuke, sustained several injuries, including wounds to his chest, abdomen, and leg. - With files from CTV's Devon McKendrick.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Accused in Brandon sword attack ordered to have mental health assessment
The exterior of Neelin High School in Brandon, Man., pictured on June 11, 2025. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News) The student accused in a Brandon high school sword attack has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment. A 16-year-old student at Neelin High School in Brandon was arrested and charged last week after he allegedly brought a sword to school and attacked a fellow student. The victim, Chinonso Onuke, suffered multiple injuries, including wounds to his chest, abdomen and leg, which required emergency surgery. The accused's lawyer, Robert Harrison, confirmed to CTV News Wednesday that a provincial judge in Brandon ordered a forensic assessment for his client on Tuesday to learn if he is suffering from any psychological or mental health disorders. The assessment is to be done in 30 days. Meanwhile, Brandon police said it is still working with the Crown to determine if any additional charges will be laid. 'Significant material disclosure has been made to the Crown Attorney's Office, inclusive of statements and digital evidence, a thorough analysis by the Crown's Office of the investigative materials is underway,' Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said in an email to CTV News. 'The collective assessment of the evidence disclosed to the Crown Attorney's Office will dictate whether any additional charges are warranted. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Crown to assess all available evidence.' Police confirmed the teenager is still in custody. He has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent. The charges haven't been tested in court.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Brandon police concerned for well-being of missing person
The Brandon Police Service is concerned for the well-being of missing person Owen Robert Bedford. Bedford was last seen at an establishment in the 3100 block of Victoria Avenue around 2 a.m. on Sunday. Police note he may have gotten into a taxi. Bedford was last spotted wearing a grey hoodie with 'Las Vegas' written on it, light coloured jeans, a white baseball hat and white shoes. He is described as five-foot-seven in height, with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the missing persons unit at 204-729-2392.
CBC
12-06-2025
- CBC
No charges for Manitoba officer accused of using derogatory language, punching person's face: IIU
Manitoba's police watchdog is not pressing charges against a Brandon police officer who was accused of throwing a person onto the ground, punching her face and referring to her with derogatory language during an arrest. In October 2023, the chair of Community Mobilization Westman, a Brandon-based initiative for community safety, met with Brandon police after a Child and Family Services case worker told her a police officer called a person a "rez dog" and a "neechie" several times during an arrest. The officer was also accused of slamming the person against a wall of the house, throwing her to the ground and hitting her face several times during the interaction. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) — responsible for investigating all serious matters involving police — assumed the investigation after the person suffered injuries during the arrest. In its final report on the incident, completed on May 23 and published on Wednesday, the IIU said it reviewed audio from the patrol vehicle where the person and two officers were travelling. During the recording, someone is heard saying, "You're a neechie that's why," to which the person responded, "What the f--k, did you just really say that, that I'm a neechie?" The IIU said it "cannot condone such language as appropriate or necessary" but it is not possible to attribute the initial comment to anyone specifically. "Efforts must be made to do better, and education must occur to ensure that such language is not used in a derogatory context," the IIU said in its report. Police say person was resisting arrest The interaction with police began hours after the female had started drinking with someone else at her house. She told the IIU they then went to smoke weed at someone else's house. One of the three officers who were dispatched to the area for a disturbance call told the IIU they found a group of young people who appeared to be quite intoxicated. Police tried to establish who the young people were, but one of them became belligerent, the officer told the IIU. While that person was being handcuffed, the female who's the focus of the report told the IIU she started walking toward them when another officer grabbed her by the arm and threw her against a spiky wall. The person said the officer tripped her to the ground. With her arms laid in front of her, she asked the officer to get off her, but he punched her in the face with an open and closed fist while telling her to stop resisting, she told the IIU. The officer declined to speak with the IIU in accordance with his rights. Instead, he provided an incident of force report where he said he pushed the female on her back after she attempted to run toward the person who was being arrested, despite being told not to. After stumbling against the house, the female got up and started to assault the officer, punching and scratching his face, the officer's report said. The officer pulled the person to the ground where he said she continued to resist. The report said the officer tried to apply pressure to two points on her jaw and ear to keep her under control, but the person continued to kick and flail so he delivered "three high-level mechanical stuns" to her head. The person denied she was resisting and said another officer grabbed her arms and handcuffed her. The officer who was trying to arrest the first person told the IIU he believed he would have been assaulted by the female if the accused officer hadn't stepped between them. Crown not recommending charges The IIU report says the person was seen at the emergency room in Brandon's hospital, where medical staff advised they didn't observe any significant injuries or concerns. In her original statement to the Child and Family Services case worker, the person said there had been a significant assault while she was in police custody in the hospital. However, the IIU said they reviewed hospital surveillance and there was no evidence that a physical altercation occurred there. The IIU sent their investigation for review to the Manitoba Prosecution Service to determine whether any charges should be authorized against the officer. The Crown said it is not recommending charges because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction for the officer based on the evidence obtained by the IIU.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- CTV News
Student charged with attempted murder in sword attack at Brandon school: police
Messages of support are written on the sidewalk outside Neelin High School in Brandon, Man. on June 11, 2025. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg) A 15-year-old boy who was seriousy injured in a sword attack at a Brandon high school is in stable condition, as another student faces an attempted murder charge. The Brandon Police Service provided an update on the violent incident that unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Neelin High School, calling it a senseless act of violence. Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said a student initially alerted the school's resource officer about the attack, and police arrived minutes later to find a 16-year-old student wielding a sword. He was hit with a Taser and arrested. A 15-year-old student was found with stab wounds to his chest, forearms, hands, and thighs, police said. He was given immediate medical attention and is now in stable condition. Bates said the actions of the responding officers showed exceptional bravery. 'These officers' actions were nothing short of courageous and averted what could have been a far more tragic outcome,' he said. Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates speaks at a June 11, 2025 news conference at the service's headquarters. (Brandon Police Service) The incident sent the school into lock-down. The suspect has since been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and disguise with intent. The accused had a scheduled remand hearing Wednesday morning. Bates said the suspect and victim were both students at the school, and the suspect had no known prior dealings with police. Investigators are still working to discover what motivated the attack. 'Certainly, he was not on the radar as someone who presented risk of imminent harm and tragedy, so that is something that I can comment on, but I don't have definitive specifics on a criminal history.' Crisis response team brought in to support students, staff Brandon School Division Superintendent Mathew Gustafson said the attack will have a ripple impact through all of its schools. A crisis response team has been brought in to offer support to students and staff in the coming days and weeks. 'Our focus at this point is the support of the student, his family and the Neelin family of students and staff, as well as our Brandon School Division community as a whole.' - With files from CTV's Daniel Halmarson
