Quebec man arrested for erratic driving in Manitoba now charged with human trafficking: RCMP
Officers with the Manitoba RCMP have charged a Quebec man with human trafficking more than a year after they arrested him for erratic driving.
RCMP first began to investigate the suspect on Jan. 19, 2021, when Headingley officers received a call about an erratic driver travelling north on the Perimeter Highway. Officers eventually stopped the car one kilometre west of Highway 7.
Mounties said when they made contact with the people in the car, it appeared a physical “altercation” had taken place between the driver and a female passenger, which resulted in police arresting the driver.
While being arrested, police said the driver was “combative” and resisted arrest. They noted that he also provided an incorrect name once he was in custody.
Once police determined the man’s real name, they learned he had a number of warrants for his arrest from Quebec and Ontario. Mounties then searched the car and found a number of weapons.
Manitoba RCMP’s major crimes services began to investigate, partnering with police agencies in other provinces.
Jean Francois D’Asti-Brideau, 26, from Quebec was charged with numerous offences including possession of a prohibited weapon, identity fraud, and several Highway Traffic Act offences.
About a year and a half later, on June 21, 2022, the Manitoba RCMP re-arrested and charged D’Asti-Brideau with human trafficking.
Officers allege that their investigation determined the female passenger who was inside the car when they stopped D’Asti-Brideau in January 2021 was a victim of human trafficking who was being brought to Quebec.
The suspect was arrested in Kamloops and has been charged with trafficking in persons, possession of material benefitting from sexual services, and procuring to provide sexual services. None of the charges against D’Asti-Brideau in both incidents have been proven in court.
He remains in custody and was brought to Winnipeg.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.