At approximately 12:19AM on January 22nd police conducted a traffic stop with a taxi. Upon the taxi stopping, both rear doors of the cab opened, and two male subjects exited. One male took off on foot and was apprehended in a nearby hotel. When brought back outside the secondary party was gone. While being pursued, a straight-blade knife fell from the 44-year-old male’s pants. Upon search to arrest a homemade, operational stun gun was located in the male’s jacket pocket. Upon search of the taxi, within arms distance from where the two had been sitting, was a backpack with a long firearm barrel sticking out of it. Further inspection of the barrel revealed it was a .22 caliber rifle, without the stock. The backpack also contained a yellow crowbar and gloves. The 41-year-old male is bound by multiple orders resulting in various breaches. The second male who fled could not be located in the area and police continue to search for him. The 41-year-old male was arrested and held in detention cells at BPS. He will attend court in the morning on January 22nd, 2025.

The Manitoba government is responding to requests from Manitoba’s agricultural sector and opening two new Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) Service Centres in western Manitoba to better meet the needs of Manitoba farmers, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced here today. “Where the previous government ended services, we’re bringing them back,” said Kostyshyn. “We heard from producers loud and clear that they wanted the in-person service they used to enjoy. These new service centres will also help MASC staff to further build relationships with producers, allowing them to better anticipate and respond to their individual needs.” A number of agricultural organizations have been asking the province to open new MASC Service Centres after 21 Manitoba Agriculture and MASC offices were closed across the province, noted the minister. The additional service centres are anticipated to open by the end of summer, added Kostyshyn. Precise opening dates and accompanying details will be communicated to clients in the coming months. Approximately 1,600 MASC clients will benefit from the addition of two new service centres and roughly 94 percent of MASC clients will be within a 60-minute drive to a MASC Service Centre, an increase from 83 per cent, the minister noted. The two new service centres will be located in Shoal Lake and Virden, and will provide farmers with better access to Agrinsurance, hail insurance, wildlife damage compensation, agricultural loans, pathfinding services for programs offered by Manitoba Agriculture and other programs administered by MASC. Each new location will be staffed with four full-time employees and one casual employee, said the minister. “Manitoba farmers have been clear in their desire to have access to more in-person services through MASC,” said Jill Verwey, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers. “We are pleased to see the government has listened to farmers with this commitment to open two additional service centres in Shoal Lake and Virden.” “Cattle producers certainly see value in the work being done by MASC and many like to have the option to sit down across the table from their staff to have in-depth discussions about programs and services that can help their farms and ranches,” said Matthew Atkinson, president, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP). “MBP had been advocating for there to be more service centres so that our members can access MASC services closer to home and we thank the provincial government for fulfilling its commitment to open two new offices.” In order to determine where new service centres would have the greatest impact, MASC undertook a service delivery review that analyzed client satisfaction survey results and distance to access in-person services as well as existing service centre client volumes and staff-to-client ratios. For more information on MASC visit www.masc.mb.ca.

On January 18th at 8:55PM police conducted a traffic stop in the 2400 block of Brandon Avenue with a registered owner of a 33-year-old female, but the vehicle held two male occupants ages 50 and 30. The 30-year-old male driver was known to not have a license. The officer observed open liquor in the vehicle and the two occupants were arrested. A search of the vehicle resulted in police locating more liquor in the middle console, 3 baggies of cocaine, pre-packaged bags of methamphetamine totaling 12 grams, 115 T3’s, $1010.00 in cash, a digital scale, packaging material and cell phones. The Organized Crime Section had an ongoing investigation into the 30-year-old male (driver) and came out to execute a search warrant on the male’s residence in the 1200 block of 9th Street. While on surveillance, a 24-year-old male, who was believed to be living at the target residence and involved with the 30-year-old male, was dropped off at the residence and then left a short while later in the same cab. A traffic stop was conducted in the 400 block of 10th Street and the 24-year-old male was taken into custody after a search resulted in Police locating approximately 19 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of meth, $40.00 and a cell phone. The 24-year-old male was charged accordingly with Possession for Purpose of Trafficking X2 (Cocaine and Meth) as well as a Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. He was released via Undertaking and has a court date set for April 10th, 2025. At 2:55AM on January 19th Police members of the Organized Crime Section made entry into the residence in the 1200 block of 9th Street to execute the CDSA Search Warrant. Five people were inside the residence, including the 30-year-old female who was the registered owner of the original vehicle stopped. As a result of the Search Warrant, Police located a loaded sawed-off shotgun, a dart gun, a BB gun, a machete, digital scales, packaging material and evidence of drug trafficking, approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine, 2 grams of cocaine and $185.00. Four of five people were released without charges however an 18-year-old male faces new charges of Public Mischief, Possession of Weapon (Bear Spray) as well as he had three Warrants for Arrest with pending charges of Break & Enter, Mischief Under $5000, Theft Under $5000, Failure to Attend Court and Supervision Suspension Warrant. He was arrested, held in custody with court in the morning on January 19th, 2025. The 30-year-old male driver of the vehicle is pending charges of: Possession for Purpose of Trafficking X3 (Cocaine, Meth, T3’s), Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of loaded Prohibited Firearm, Possession of Firearm without License, Possession of Firearm Contrary to Prohibit Order. Court in the morning of January 19th, 2025. The 50-year-old male passenger of vehicle was later released without charges.

“CRIME STOPPERS WANTED” for: January 17th, 2025 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE”: William AMIOTTE FOR Possession of Property Obtained by Crime On October 28th, 2024, it was reported to police that stolen property was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Police located the accused William AMIOTTE, who was in possession of the stolen property and was subsequently arrested. AMIOTTE was released however, has failed to attend court; therefore, a warrant of arrest has been issued for William AMIOTTE as his whereabouts are unknown at this time. CRIME OF THE WEEK for January 17th, 2025 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a Break Enter & Theft. On January 11th, 2025, a male broke into a business located in the 400 block of 9th Street and stole a television. The male thief fled the area on foot, however was captured on video surveillance cameras. ************** If you have information about this or any other crime you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

Some local news and developments over the past 10 days 1 - The former location for Kam Lung on Park Ave will have some major changes coming soon. BDNMB.CA will have the exclusive when we can disclose all details. 2 - Pizza Express have sold their Winnipeg location to local owners. 3 - Leon's Furniture has also sold to local group of owners no names disclosed at this time. 4 - Dollarama (Shoppers Mall) will be closed for renovations until February 1st. 5 - Papa John's on 18th Street has been sold last week. Be well more bits and bites coming soon darryl@bdnmb.ca