Latest news with #BrandonPolice
CBC
2 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Armed intruder at Brandon high school prompts lockdown: school division
A high school in Brandon, Man. went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon after an intruder came to the building with a weapon, school officials say. According to the Brandon Police Service, officers responded to an incident at Neelin High School at 1:15 p.m. Police arrested a 16-year-old male, while a 15-year-old male needed 'immediate medical attention.' Details about the incident and the nature of the youth's injuries were not reported. The victim's parents have been notified, Brandon police said. The incident triggered a lockdown at the school. A post by the Brandon School Division on social media Tuesday afternoon said it was due to 'an intruder in the building with a weapon.' The lockdown has since been lifted, and Brandon police said there is no ongoing threat to students and staff. The incident is under investigation. Brandon police will provide an update on the incident at 5:15 p.m. More details to come.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- CTV News
‘Please be cautious': Police forces trying to help wildfire evacuees with new pamphlet
A pamphlet created by police forces in Manitoba to help protect wildfire evacuees while they are away from home. Uploaded June 4, 2025. (Manitoba RCMP) Police forces throughout Manitoba have created a pamphlet to help wildfire evacuees while they are away from home. The pamphlet, which was designed by Manitoba RCMP, Winnipeg and Brandon police, and the Manitoba First Nation Police Service, gives evacuees information about how to stay safe while away from home. Manitoba RCMP said criminals can target evacuees and try to take advantage of their situation while they are vulnerable. 'This can range from scammers tricking the elderly into giving them money to human traffickers offering gifts or money to youth as grooming tactics,' RCMP said in a news release. 'Winnipeg and Brandon are very different places from our communities — they are fast-moving and carry risks we don't face back home. Please be cautious, look out for one another, and stay connected. Your safety and well-being remain our top priority,' MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said in the release. The pamphlets will be made available at all evacuation centres across the province, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Dauphin and Thompson. 'This is an extremely challenging time for all evacuees, unfortunately, we also know this presents an opportunity for criminals who want nothing more but to enrich themselves. This pamphlet provides very basic but also very important information that we hope will help evacuees to stay safe while living away from home,' said Insp. Catherine Light with the RCMP in the release. The information will also be available online.
