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On December 30, 2018, at approximately 11:03 p.m., a West District General Patrol unit observed a vehicle travelling southbound on Charleswood Road at Rannock Avenue. Computer checks on the vehicle’s licence plates revealed they had been stolen from a different vehicle and were now inactive.
The vehicle itself was later found to have been stolen from the Fort Richmond area during the morning of December 28, 2018, after it was left running.
As officers attempted to follow, the vehicle immediately fled at a high rate of speed. Officers gave chase and attempted to block the vehicle in the parking lot at Westdale Junior High School, but the vehicle drove up onto a sidewalk and managed to flee.
A short time later, AIR1 located the vehicle in the first 100 block of Brownell Bay. The vehicle was tracked as it drove through the Roblin Boulevard/Dale Boulevard areas and onto the Perimeter Highway as well as Portage Avenue at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle later turned onto Ness Avenue where officers were able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device (“Stop Stick”) which began to deflate the vehicle’s tires as it continued to flee. The vehicle, now travelling at slower speeds, began to travel southbound in the northbound lanes of Kenaston Boulevard before it became stuck and the driver fled on foot.
AIR1 tracked the driver as he attempted to hide in the patio of a residential suite in the 400 block of Kenaston Boulevard. After maintaining visual contact and coordinating with ground units, the driver was taken into custody. He was found to be a prohibited driver and was in possession of a small amount (1 gram) of methamphetamine.
Blaine Lindsey Malcolm, a 33-year-old male of Ebb and Flow First Nation, has been charged and detained in custody.
Stolen Vehicle – Arrest: C18-288762
On December 30, 2018, at approximately 11:48 p.m., a North District General Patrol unit observed a stolen vehicle travelling in the area of Arlington Street and Dufferin Avenue at a high rate of speed. The vehicle had also failed to stop for several red lights/stop signs.
Officers attempted a number of pre-pursuit tactics and followed the stolen vehicle from a distance. A short time later, AIR1 arrived and began to track the vehicle as police units on the ground dropped back.
A tire deflation device (“Stop Stick”) was successfully deployed in the area of Keewatin Street and Manitoba Avenue. The stolen vehicle came to a stop in the area of Notre Dame Avenue and Worth Street before the driver fled on foot.
AIR1 tracked the driver as he ran through the residential neighbourhood. After maintaining visual contact and coordinating with ground units, the driver was taken into custody in the area of Bannatyne Avenue West and Cecil Street.
The vehicle was found to have been stolen from the Bridgwater Trails area between the evening of December 24, 2018, and the morning of December 25, 2018, after the keys to the vehicle were left inside another vehicle that had been broken into.
Ronto Antonio Baptiste, a 22-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged and detained in custody.
Armed Robberies/Drug Offence – Arrest: C18-289406
On December 31, 2018, at approximately 11:47 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service received information that a suspect for numerous armed robberies was leaving an establishment in the 600 block of Erin Street.
AIR1 quickly acquired visual containment of the establishment before ground units could arrived and observed two males leave in a taxi cab. The vehicle was tracked to a rear lane between Agnes Street and McGee Street where officers attempted a containment traffic stop.
A male passenger immediately fled from the taxi cab and was tracked by AIR1 as he ran and attempted to evade officers. After maintaining visual contact and coordinating with ground units, the passenger was taken into custody in the area of Portage Avenue and Langside Street. A search of the male later revealed a small amount of cocaine (.61 grams).
The other passenger in the taxi cab was released without charges.
Members of the Major Crimes Unit continued with investigation and believe the suspect is responsible for numerous armed robberies that occurred across the city of Winnipeg over the month of December 2018. During many incidents, a firearm was used.
Travis Freddie Ducharme, a 21-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged and detained in custody.
