Weapons an issue in downtown Brandon

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This article was published 12/04/2022 (1432 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People carrying weapons is becoming an increasing problem in downtown Brandon, according to a woman who previously spent time unhoused in the city.

The woman, who said she was homeless over the last two years, said she believes people carrying weapons is directly tied to the drug trade. The Sun is not naming her to protect her identity as she is concerned for her personal safety.

People carry a wide variety of weapons, she said, including knives, chains, hunting knives and hatchets.

“I think [police] should be more strict about people not having weapons on them … If you’re not using that at work and you don’t actually have a job that requires you to carry a knife or something for cutting boxes, then you shouldn’t have a concealed weapon on you.”

The presence of weapons makes it dangerous for other homeless people downtown and people in the area, she said.

“I don’t think people who live in the city deserve to be living in fear and afraid to go to places we need to go to conduct our business.”

Sgt. Kirby Sararas, Brandon police public information officer, said the police service observed a significant increase in people carrying weapons around 2017, when methamphetamine became a larger problem in the city.

In 2016, there were 88 weapons charges laid by police. That number jumped to 173 in 2017 and to 274 in 2018. In 2020, there were 307 weapons charges laid by police and 231 in 2021.

The trend is tied to an increase in drug trafficking charges laid by the Brandon Police Service, including with methamphetamine, Sararas said.

“The weapon increase definitely happened after 2016 and it’s directly correlated with the meth subculture, which affects people who have found themselves marginalized and perhaps displaced and homeless.”

Meth is extremely addictive, so the drug affects people in a more profound way than other drugs, she said. People may carry a weapon to protect themselves, or to get an advantage over another person.

“People become very unpredictable when they are users of the drug.”

Police most often find weapons on people during an arrest for another charge, she said. One of the most common weapons is bear spray, which is illegal unless a person is actually hiking.

The formerly homeless woman said she stayed with friends when she could but also spent time at the Samaritan House Ministries’ Safe and Warm Shelter, where weapons have also been found.

The overnight shelter makes people put their belongings — including things that can be used as a weapon — in a bin for the night, said Samaritan House executive director Barbara McNish. The shelter has security as well.

“When you come in the shelter, that stuff needs to be left at the door. You’re coming in to have a safe place to sleep at night,” she said. Police could be called depending on the situation.

“We do the best we can.”

The shelter is mindful of its safety protocols, she said, including the possibility of banning people from the shelter for a period of time for safety.

“It’s the last resort, but safety trumps everything in the shelter …. We are here for people and we want them to be safe and warm.”

» dmay@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @DrewMay_