2 arrested after shoppers threatened, robbed at gunpoint outside CF Polo Park: WPS
Two Winnipeg men are facing charges after police said CF Polo Park mall patrons were threatened and robbed at gunpoint.
The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said officers were called to the mall in the 1400 block of Portage Avenue for a report of two men verbally threatening security and shoppers.
Police said the two then approached a vehicle and robbed the people inside at gunpoint.
WPS said mall security called 911 and directed officers to the suspects. Police said both tried to run and were chased by the responding officers.
Officials said while being chased, one of the men dropped a loaded gun, which was later recovered. He was taken into custody in the 1500 block of St. Matthews Avenue.
Police said the gun was found to be a loaded 9mm handgun with a 30-round magazine and a tampered serial number.
The other man was arrested near St. Matthews Avenue and Milt Stegall Drive where he was also found to be in possession of a 9mm handgun.
The Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate.
Police said it is believed the two suspects didn’t know any of their victims. WPS said they began exhibiting unusual behaviour that concerned store staff. Security was contacted and the two men were asked to leave, at which point the suspects threatened the guards, police said.
The two then approached vehicles outside the mall and showed their firearms, demanding property from three people. Officers said they got an undisclosed amount of money before running away.
Sampson Paul Pistun, 20, and Trent Redhead, 20, both from Winnipeg, face a slew of weapon and theft-related charges.
Both were detained into custody.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
When asked for comment on the incident, CF Polo Park said WPS was notified by its security team who quickly responded to the situation.
“Our primary concern is for the safety of our customers, tenants and staff and our team acted quickly and in full cooperation with WPS,” the statement said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.