During the three day period of December 3 to 5, 2024, officers with the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU), an integrated team consisting of Manitoba RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service officers, the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, North District CREST and local resources from respective RCMP detachments, conducted operations targeting prolific offenders with outstanding Warrants for their arrest.
This operation took place in the communities of Thompson, Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Cross Lake Cree Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation.
Over the three days, officers attended to 184 residences and arrested 17 individuals on outstanding Warrants of Arrest, six in Thompson, six in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, two in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, two in Cross Lake Cree Nation and one in Tataskweyak Cree Nation. Two individuals also turned themselves into the RCMP, one in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation and the other in Gillam as a result of this operation.
On December 5, as officers were conducting operations at an apartment complex in Thompson, two individuals, later identified to be from Ontario, leapt from a second-floor window in an attempt to evade capture. Upon their arrest, they were found in possession of crack cocaine and proceeds of crime. Both males were later released for a future court date in Thompson where they will face charge drug
"This was obviously a large-scale operation for our unit to execute over a number of days," said Sgt. James Ries, Team Leader for MIVOAU. "The number of arrests speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication shown by all the officers involved. The goal here was to take as many prolific offenders off the streets as possible to make these communities safer, and I feel that goal was somewhat accomplished."
RCMP continue to investigate.