All victims of the bear spray incident, including a Police Service Dog, that took place Monday evening have been treated and those responsible have been arrested and charged.

On April 10, 2023, between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., General Patrol officers from the East District, with the assistance of the K9 Unit, responded to three assaults involving bear spray in the St. Vital area.

A female and two males initially attended a convenience store in the 1600 block of St. Mary’s Road. They sprayed an adult employee in the face with bear spray, then exited the store.

Once outside the store, the group donned ski masks, sprayed a second unknown victim in the face, and fled on foot.

A third unknown victim walking in the 200 block of Meadowood Drive was confronted by the same suspects and sprayed in the face. They again fled on foot.

Officers and a K9 Unit located the three suspects running through a parking lot, continuing to evade police. As police attempted to apprehend the suspects, three officers and a Police Service Dog (PSD) were sprayed in the face.

A 13-year-old male, an 18-year-old male, and a 20-year-old female from Winnipeg were taken into custody and facing numerous assault-related and resisting arrest charges.

Paramedics subsequently treated all three victims and the officers due to bear spray contamination. The affected PSD was decontaminated by their handler.