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Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brandon officers scolded for language used during teen's arrest
The head of the Manitoba police watchdog has criticized the Brandon Police Service after an officer was caught on tape using inappropriate language during the arrest of an Indigenous teenager. The Independent Investigation Unit was contacted because the girl was injured while being taken into custody on Oct. 16, 2023. A child welfare worker who prepared a report on the incident, which was forwarded to the IIU, wrote that the officer called the girl a 'rez dog' and a 'neechie' several times during the arrest. The IIU forwarded its investigation to Crown prosecutors, who determined there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction if an assault charge was laid against the officer. Acting director Bruce Sychuk, a longtime prosecutor, said the agency's investigators reviewed audio tape from a Brandon Police Service cruiser, which caught one of the two officers in the vehicle saying 'you're a neechie' to the girl. On the tape, the girl is heard taking offence to the comment. 'What the f—k. Did you just really say that, that I'm a neechie?' she said. 'What the f—k do you think is going to happen when my uncles hear that?' Sychuk said he could not determine which officer had made the comment. 'In the spirit of reconciliation, transparency and accountability to the public, I cannot condone such language as appropriate or necessary,' said Sychuk in a report that was made public Wednesday. 'Efforts must be made to do better, and education must occur to ensure that such language is not used in a derogatory context.' The CFS agency's summary of the incident, which was given to senior Brandon police, was forwarded to the watchdog on Oct. 19, 2023. The case worker's report alleged the officer had assaulted the girl after the youth got drunk at a friend's home. A neighbour called police to report that people were fighting at the house. Police who were at the scene told the IIU that the girl was agitated and tried to fight the officer. He told the IIU in a statement he used force to restrain and control her in order to arrest her. The girl told the IIU the officer had lunged at her and tripped her. She claimed he punched her in the face while kneeling on her neck. She denied resisting arrest and had scrapes and bruises afterward. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teen accused in Brandon high school sword attack planned to hurt others, police chief says
The 16-year-old accused of seriously assaulting another student with a sword at a Brandon high school Tuesday was planning to attack more victims, police say. Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates released new details Wednesday morning of the sword attack at Neelin High School. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, Bates told a news conference. TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates said today that police don't yet know where the teen got the sword or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 'It's clear that the suspect had malicious intentions and our officers' intervention on this day prevented further bloodshed,' said Bates. 'We know that certainly the harms that were intended were beyond the individual victim involved.' The 15-year-old victim remains in stable condition in hospital with stab wounds to his chest, thighs, forearms and hands. The accused teen, who is in custody, is facing charges of attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent. The disguise with intent charge suggests the teen tried to conceal his identity, but Bates said he could not reveal those details. The 16-year-old appeared in a Brandon courtroom Wednesday morning. Bates said police don't yet know where the teen got the sword or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 'Clearly the actions are deranged,' he said in response to a question about whether mental illness is suspected as a factor. 'In terms of the medical situation involving the youth involved, that will be something that will be further assessed. We need to understand and know why and dissect what contributed to this so we can prevent future incidents of this nature.' Brandon police responded to a call from a Neelin student who said, 'a male is going crazy and holding a sword' at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. The response was led by a BPS school resource officer, who got to the school within three minutes, Bates said Wednesday. Officers found the teen several minutes later and used a Taser electroshock weapon during the arrest, while other police gave the victim emergency first aid. 'Their heroic actions directly prevented further harm,' Bates said. School officials took immediate emergency action to protect students. 'Were it not for those lockdown procedures and the safe securing of the students that were in harm's way, (and) the staff that were in harm's way, for that matter, we would be having a very different discussion today,' the police chief said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The school resource officer had no prior interactions with the student accused in the attack, said Bates, adding police are thinking of the young victim and his family as 'he recovers from this senseless act of violence.' 'A school should always be a place of safety, a place to learn, grow and thrive,' he said. Mathew Gustafson, superintendent of the Brandon School Division, said he's concerned for the well being of students, their families and staff at the high school after the attack. 'We have a crisis response team in place, but our support will not only be for today, but will be ongoing into the future,' said Gustafson. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
11-06-2025
- CBC
More victims and bloodshed were intended in sword attack at Brandon high school, police say
A 16-year-old boy who used a sword to seriously injure another student at Brandon's Neelin High School had plans for more victims but was stopped by the swift actions of officials and officers, the western Manitoba city's police chief says. A 15-year-old boy is in stable condition in hospital, recovering from stab wounds to the chest, forearms, hands and thigh, police have said. "We know that certainly the harms that were intended were beyond the individual victim involved," Chief Tyler Bates said at a news conference on Wednesday. "We do believe that those intentions were interrupted — that the response of our officers prevented further bloodshed." Bates wouldn't go into further details about what exactly happened Tuesday afternoon. "The finer details will come to light in due course," he said. The attacker and the victim are both students at the school and knew one another, he said. The motivation behind the attack, though, is still under investigation, Bates said. Police were called at 1:15 p.m. and by 1:22 p.m. the 16-year-old was in custody. Officers used a Taser to subdue and disarm him. "In the face of mortal danger, our Brandon Police Service officers demonstrated exceptional bravery, professionalism and restraint. They ran towards the threat, risking their own safety with both composure and care," Bates said. That composure resulted in the outcome being far less tragic than it could have been if officers chose instead to use their firearms, he said. "Use-of-force situations are dynamic, they're chaotic, and they require split-second decision-making under immense stress." Officers were responding to what they were told was someone armed with a sword and "going crazy," Bates said. It was an incident involving someone not only presenting a lethal threat, but who had already attempted to take someone's life, he said. "The presence of mind of our officers … in this particular situation to incapacitate the offender is really quite remarkable." The 16-year-old faces charges of attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon and wearing a disguise. Bates doesn't know if the teen had any prior dealings with police. The school resource officer, who is well-acquainted with the students, did not have prior dealings with him, he said. No information was given about the disguise or whether police believe the teen was under the influence of anything at the time. "At this juncture of the investigation, there's no indication that we're talking about altered states or a situation where drugs were specifically involved," he said. As for mental health concerns, "clearly the actions are deranged." Bates asked for patience and understanding as witness interviews are ongoing and details continue to emerge. "We understand the deep emotional toll that this event has taken on the entire school community. Traumatic events like this affect everybody and have a ripple effect — students, families, teachers, the broader public, emergency responders," he said. "There's much recovery that needs to take place in the aftermath of this tragedy. A school should always be a place of safety, a place to learn, grow and thrive. Tragically, yesterday, one of our schools … became a scene of trauma and danger." He urged anyone struggling in the wake of the incident to reach out to mental health resources at the school or health-care providers and other organizations within the community. School-police relationship lauded The school was immediately put into lockdown when school staff realized what was happening. That was lifted once the attacker was custody. "The actions taken were not by chance on this day, but the result of preparation, care and a commitment to student safety," Bates said, praising school staff and officers. "On this day we were prepared. The response was seamless and it's because of that practice and relationship that has been pre-established and built with Brandon School Division." School resource officers get ARTO (assessment of risk to others) and VTRA (violence threat risk assessment) training from the police service. That training and relationship "speaks to the recognition of potential harm and risk in that environment," Bates said. "How we're presently responsive to that is something that is always under discussion — should we be looking at how we can mitigate risks and events such as this? How do we make the schools as safe as they can possibly be?" That has resulted in the specialized training now in place and the presence of school resource officers. "I think we would be remiss if we didn't continually look at other potential enhancements to school safety," Bates said.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teen injured in sword attack at Brandon high school
BRANDON — A 16-year-old male was taken into custody in relation to a sword attack at Neelin High School Tuesday afternoon that prompted a lockdown of the building. A 15-year-old male student was rushed to the Brandon Regional Health Centre in serious condition after suffering injuries to his chest, forearms, hands and thighs, police said. He was later upgraded to stable condition. Brandon Police Service Insp. Jason Dupuis said the victim's 'injuries were significant and serious.' Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Brandon Police Service vehicles sit in front of École Secondaire Neelin High School on Tuesday after Brandon Police responded to an incident at the school after a student was allegedly seriously injured with a sword. The school was placed into a lockdown and students were released to the custody of parents of parents, relatives and guardians. Dupuis told a news conference police responded to a call from a Neelin student who said, 'a male is going crazy and holding a sword' at 1:15 p.m. Police arrived at the school within minutes later and found the suspect at 1:22 p.m., Dupuis said. Officers used a Taser on him during the arrest. Police Chief Tyler Bates said police didn't believe there were any other victims. A post by the Brandon School Division Tuesday afternoon noted that the lockdown had been implemented 'due to an intruder in the building with a weapon.' BPS officers and cadets stood at the entrances surrounding the school when the Sun arrived before 3 p.m., and parents were lined up outside the gymnasium to pick up their children, with many students walking out of the school holding hands with their parents, giving them hugs and crying. 'I saw him chasing one of our students with a sword, then I ran to class,' said Fathia, who didn't want to give her last name. 'I was just scared, that's all,' she said through tears while standing next to her mom, who had picked her up from the school. Another student described what happened after the attack started. 'All I know is all of a sudden, doors were slamming and we got told to sit in the corner and our teacher directed us to turn the lights off, sit in the corner and pretty much be quiet,' said Jordan-Blayne Bjornsson. 'We were definitely all scared, 'cause we didn't know exactly what was happening,' the Grade 12 student said. 'None of us felt very good and I know there were a lot of people crying.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. She said police escorted students to the gymnasium after a while. 'People were panicked, people were sad,' said Bjornsson. 'I think a lot of people were just scared and they didn't know what happened. Police didn't say whether the victim and suspect knew each other. More information would be released Wednesday, he said. 'Our investigators will be hard at work throughout the night,' said Bates. 'We really wanted to get out and at least provide some information to citizens of Brandon, to alleviate angst and concern they would understandably have.' — Brandon Sun
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
Officer stabbed twice in back by inmate at Brandon Correctional Centre, police say
Social Sharing A corrections officer was rushed to hospital in Brandon after being stabbed twice in the back by an inmate at the provincial jail, police say. The 47-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the stabbing on Monday, said police, who were called to the Brandon Correctional Centre around 8:45 p.m. A 41-year-old man is charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, aggravated assault of a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm. The Brandon Police Service is "deeply concerned for the well-being of the staff member injured," and its major crimes unit is investigating, a news release said Wednesday. It did not identify the staff member's position at the medium-security facility, but Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said it was a corrections officer. "It's a real unfortunate event, where one of our officers was attacked and stabbed while on the job," he said. "[It] must be very difficult for that worker right now. We haven't had an opportunity to connect [with] them [but] we're hoping we can soon." Ross doesn't know how long the officer has been working there. There are many staff in jails aside from corrections officers, including those in administration, health care, social work and counselling, rehabilitation, education, food services and maintenance. An internal review has been launched at the correctional centre to examine the circumstances and reinforce safety measures for both staff and inmates, the Brandon Police Service news release said. CBC News reached out to the province about the scope of the internal review, whether any immediate changes have been made and how long the review is expected to take. A spokesperson provided the following response: "Standard operational review, as would occur after every serious incident. No timeline." 'Challenging job' A 27-year-old inmate at the facility was charged just a few months ago with first-degree murder in the death of his 23-year-old cellmate. The cellmate was repeatedly punched and kicked, police said. He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. "Working in correctional facilities is a challenging job, and right now, with the [inmate] counts being as high as they are, it's getting more challenging for our workers, and we're hopeful we can find ways to make it safer for them and the inmates they're in charge of," Ross said. The Brandon Correctional Centre has a capacity of 244 inmates. Ross was not sure how many are currently there. In comparison, "there is barely enough staff" to deal with the challenges, he said. "Workers are being stretched thinner than they'd like." Recruitment efforts by the province are underway, "but it's a difficult job to recruit for," Ross said. "When I speak to the officers, I hear it often: it's a very different job compared to 10 years ago. The inmates that are in these facilities are far more dangerous and more volatile than they were in the past." There are more gangs and illicit drug use among inmates, he said.
