Police charge Winnipeg councillor with sexual assault and possession of psilocybin
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WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg city councillor is facing new sexual assault and drug possession charges after a second complainant came forward alleging the councillor assaulted him nearly three years ago.
Coun. Russ Wyatt faces one count each of sexual assault and administering a noxious drug for an alleged encounter that occurred in October 2023.
Police allege the two men connected on a social media website three months prior and met in person on more than one occasion.
In one of these instances, police say, the two met a at a residence in the southwest area of city where the complainant was provided an illicit substance and sexually assaulted.
Wyatt was charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious drug earlier this year in relation to a separate incident that allegedly occurred the year prior.
Police continued to investigate the alleged assault, and recently charged the 56-year-old with possession of psilocybin after approximately seven grams of the drug, also known as magic mushrooms, was found during a search of a residence in the east area of the city.
Police announced in March that a man came forward to report that he connected with Wyatt on a social media website and started meeting in person in December 2025.
It was during one of these encounters that the complainant said he was provided an illicit drug and sexually assaulted.
Wyatt’s lawyer, Evan Roitenberg, did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
At the time of the initial arrest, he said his client is innocent and looked forward to a trial to prove that.
The councillor for the Transcona ward, first elected in 2002, chose to remain on council despite calls from the mayor and other members for him to step away.
Following the arrest, city council voted in favour of removing Wyatt from the boards and committees he sat on.
Wyatt has not registered to run in October’s municipal elections or stated whether he will try and maintain his seat.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026.