Van, sidearm stolen from Manitoba RCMP officer after struggle during escort
ST. LAURENT, Man. — An agency that investigates serious police actions in Manitoba says an RCMP officer was escorting a man to Winnipeg when he wrestled the Mountie’s gun away from him and took off in an unmarked police van.
Several hours later, the 18-year-old was shot and killed by officers near the Lake Manitoba First Nation.
Zane Tessler of Manitoba’s Independent Investigation Unit says Mounties have told the unit that an officer was taking the man to Winnipeg from Ashern in the van Tuesday night.
Tessler says the two got into a fight during which the man assaulted the officer, who shot his gun. The man grabbed the officer’s gun and took off in the van, leaving the officer behind.