Wanted man found; assaults; fraud warning

WANTED MAN CAUGHT IN SHOAL LAKE

A 42-year-old man wanted in two provinces was arrested in Shoal Lake on Wednesday.

RCMP officers with the Manitoba West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Team (CREST) went to the RM of Yellowhead to arrest a man who was unlawfully at large in the area on Tuesday, RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Scott Purdy had outstanding charges and warrants from Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was wanted for charges of forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, criminal harassment, assault on a police officer, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

CREST, with help from Manitoba RCMP Emergency Response team, officers from Yellowhead RCMP and RCMP canine services, arrested Purdy on his property in Shoal Lake on Wednesday.

Officers searched Purdy’s property and seized a camper — which police suspect was stolen — and a firearm, the release said.

Purdy was taken into custody for Alberta RCMP to transport him back to Alberta.

CREST continues to investigate.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

Brandon Police Service arrested a man on Thursday after he allegedly assaulted a woman.

Police received a disturbance call and went to a home on Willowdale Crescent at around 11:20 p.m.

A woman with a black eye and bloody lip answered the door, BPS said in a news release Friday.

After learning details of an assault, police arrested a 44-year-old man in the residence and charged him with assault, police said.

The man was released on an undertaking and scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

SCREWDRIVER USED AS WEAPON

A man who allegedly tried to assault someone with a screwdriver was arrested in the early hours of the morning on Friday.

Brandon police responded to a disturbance report in the 400 block of Fourth Street at around 2:30 a.m.

A man seen leaving the residence initially resisted arrest, police said in a news release.

Officers recovered a screwdriver and a metal rod from the scene, police said.

The alleged victim, a 24-year-old man, did not sustain injuries.

Police arrested and charged a 30-year-old man with assault with a weapon and resisting arrest.

He was held in cells and scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

Brandon police arrested a woman who was wanted for allegedly assaulting two women last week.

The pair, aged 43 and 74, reported being assaulted by the same woman, who allegedly pushed them, pulled their hair and hit them in the head, police said.

Police found the suspect on Thursday. She was charged with two counts of assault.

The woman, 26, was held in detention cells overnight to appear in court on Friday morning.

FRAUD ALERT ISSUED

The provincial government is warning Manitobans not to respond to fraudulent text messages from a sender claiming to be Manitoba Justice and demanding outstanding payments.

The government says the messages “are part of a phishing scam.”

Multiple people have reported that they have received texts about outstanding fines for provincial offences, including speeding tickets and traffic offences, the province said in a news release Friday.

“Manitoba Justice currently does not send payment requests or any official communications via text,” the release said, adding that people should contact Manitoba Justice directly if they have any concerns.

It says others have received texts asking them to finalize their Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit (HATC) by clicking a link.

The release warned that Manitoba Finance does not verify or finalize tax credits or benefits through text.

“Manitobans who receive these types of texts should not respond or click on any links within the message and should avoid providing any personal information,” the release said.

Suspicious text messages can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

» The Brandon Sun

» The Brandon Sun