Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On May 10, 2021, police responded to several reports of a dispute between family members at a residence after midnight. The 16-year-old son who was causing the disturbance was given an opportunity to remain at home; however, after several hours, his behavior escalated and he proceeded to spray another family member with bear mace. Police returned and arrested the youth. He was lodged and will be released to appear in court on June 8, 2021 on charges of Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, And Administer Noxious Thing with Intent.

As a proactive measure and to mitigate increasing transmission of COVID-19, all kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the City of Winnipeg and the City of Brandon will move to remote learning effective Wednesday, May 12 until May 30, Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced today.“Keeping schools open and safe for students, staff and families has been at the forefront of our COVID-19 response planning, and our priority has been to have students in classrooms with face-to-face instruction to the greatest extent possible,” said Cullen. “However, increased transmission of the variants of concern, increased case numbers in larger centres and rising numbers of cases in younger people means we are moving to remote learning in Winnipeg and Brandon to better protect students, families, teachers and staff.”For schools remaining open in other parts of Manitoba, the following additional measures will be implemented during this period:•    schools with multiple cases (outside of same household cases) will be moved proactively to remote learning as per existing guidance;•    school officials can require students and/or staff who are showing symptoms to stay home for 10 days and encourage them to seek testing. Household members without symptoms should also self-isolate (quarantine) until the sick individual’s test result is received;•    all extra-curricular activities, organized sports and off-site activities are suspended, except for physically-distanced walks/runs in the local community;•    no indoor singing and no indoor use of wind instruments will be allowed; and•    all other public health measures will remain in effect.“While some of these people may not have caught the virus in school or spread it to others in schools because they were self-isolating at home, the rising case numbers mean we need to take steps now to break the cycle of transmission and reduce case counts,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer. “Public health officials will continue to work with school leadership to actively monitor the situation, and move additional schools outside Winnipeg and Brandon to remote learning if and when the data indicates it is needed.”The minister noted schools in full remote learning will be able to accommodate kindergarten to Grade 6 children of critical services workers who cannot make alternative care arrangements if they are not required to self-isolate. In addition, schools will also be able to accommodate kindergarten to Grade 12 high-risk students and those with special needs.“While schools have done an excellent job protecting staff and students throughout the pandemic, there is a great deal of community transmission at this time, which is impacting our schools. This approach is needed to address community transmission and will support Manitoba’s efforts in moving through and out of the third wave,” said Roussin. “Between the significant restrictions that came into effect today and this proactive move to protect school communities, we believe we can bend the curve, reduce COVID-19 cases in Manitoba to ease the strain on our health system and reduce the risk of people getting sick, while we provide more vaccinations to people across the province.” At this time, child care facilities will remain open, including sites in Winnipeg and Brandon. However, children who are on remote learning at school should not attend child care facilities before or after school hours. All child care facilities will also follow the additional guidance for schools that remain open in communities outside Winnipeg and Brandon. Effective this week, shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the child care sector will increase from 100,000 units per month to 1.1 million units per month to meet increased mask use requirements. Currently, public health officials are not recommending changes to cohort sizes, as there is less evidence of transmission in younger age groups. Public health officials will continue to review data and other measures to determine if changes are needed.For more information on the current public health orders and COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit: manitoba.ca/covid19. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On May 7, 2021 at approx. 9:50 pm, police received a report of a B&E in progress at the Town Centre. The suspect removed an entire glass panel from an exterior door, then propped the doors open with garbage cans, before going up to the second level and kicking a window out. He then set up home, and was on scene when members arrived.  He was found to be under the influence of meth, and had a small quantity on him when arrested. He was held in custody until sober then released on an Undertaking to appear in court on July 8 charged with Break and Enter and Possession of Methamphetamine. A second subject was located near the Town Centre at the same time.  He was intoxicated and had no place to go and no one to look after him. He was lodged and released in the morning when sober.

Strict new public health orders to close restaurants, bars, patios, gyms, fitness centres, museums and day camps as well as restrict retail capacity will come into effect on Sunday to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the strain on the health-care system, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announced today. “Despite having some of the strictest public health restrictions and enforcement measures in the country, Manitoba’s COVID case numbers continue to rise, and this is concerning for all of us," said Pallister. "All Manitobans must continue to do their part to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community. We recognize the next few weeks will be challenging, but these additional measures are necessary to halt the spread of this deadly virus and protect Manitobans and our health care system.” The following additional public health order restrictions will be in effect on Sunday, May 9 at 12:01 a.m. for a period of three weeks:•    outdoor gatherings in public places that include people from multiple households are limited to a maximum of five people;•   restaurants, bars and patios will close to in-person dining but can still provide take-out and delivery services;•    gyms and fitness centres will close;•    casinos remain closed and VLTs will close;•    museums, galleries and libraries will close;•    indoor community, cultural and religious gatherings are prohibited;•    personal services such as estheticians, barbers, salons and tanning salons will close;•    indoor sports and recreation, including after-school activities, will close;•    outdoor sports and recreation activities will have a maximum of five participants and organized team games will not be permitted;•    dance, theatre and music schools will close;•    day camps will close;•    retail stores, markets and garden centres will be able to open at 10 per cent capacity, to a maximum of 100 people, and malls will be open to a maximum of 10 per cent of the facility’s capacity; and•    self-help gatherings will have a maximum of 10 participants. “Right now case numbers are far too high and the strain on our health system is rapidly increasing,” said Roussin. “I urge all Manitobans to do everything they can to reduce transmission of the virus - follow the orders, stay home as much as possible, reduce the number of contacts you have and wear masks when you are around others from outside your household.” Roussin noted the announcement earlier today about expanding vaccine eligibility to all adults who are 40 or older will help reduce the risk for Manitobans. “In May, the Vaccine Implementation Task Force expects to provide more than 300,000 doses of vaccine to Manitobans,” said Roussin. “Make an appointment as soon as you can, because the eligibility will continue to expand in the coming weeks to help protect more people as soon as possible.” Changes to the orders will be in effect until Sunday, May 30. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On May 7, 2021 at approximately 4:00 am, police conducted a traffic stop in the 2200 block of MacDonald Ave.  Police K-9 indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle.  Further investigation revealed the two occupants were in possession of 20 grams of Meth. The 27-year-old male occupant was to abide by conditions not to be in possession of any drugs.  He was arrested and later released to appear in court on July 8, 2021 on charges of Possess for the Purpose of Trafficking Meth, Proceeds of Crime, Fail to Comply with Undertaking, and Fail to Comply with Probation. The 26-year-old female occupant was arrested and later released to appear in court on July 8, 2021 on a charge of Possess for the Purpose of Trafficking Meth.