Winnipeg man charged after truck driven up Manitoba legislature steps
Winnipeg police are providing more details about a truck being driven onto the Manitoba legislature steps Wednesday evening.
Police said a truck was being driven erratically towards the legislature around 6:30 p.m.
Investigators said the vehicle went through several safety cones and accelerated onto the steps.
Once on the steps, police said the driver, a 33-year-old man from Winnipeg, got out of the vehicle in an "agitated state" and police arrested him.
A woman who was a passenger in the truck was also arrested but she was released later without charges.
The man has been charged with dangerous operation of a conveyance and mischief under $5,000/obstructing enjoyment. The charges have not been proven in court.
Police said the man has been released and he was sent to hospital for a medical assessment.
Const. Jay Murray said they don't believe there was any damage to the Legislative Building and police don't believe the driver of the truck was impaired at the time of the incident.
Murray also explained why there was such a large police presence, approximately 12 officers, that responded to the scene.
"There's been a number of high-profile incidents that have occurred at government buildings over the past year. There was an incident that occurred last July at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. So I think whenever you see an incident like this, you are going to see a significant response," said Murray.
He added police don't believe this was related to any protests connected to the toppling of two statues on Canada Day.
Murray also took a moment to thank the security officers at the Legislature, noting they have had a lot to deal with over the last week.
"I've personally been able to talk to a few of them and they've been absolutely incredible to deal with."
Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said the incident is “an alarming event for everyone.”
In light of the incident, and the incident on Canada Day where two statues were toppled, Friesen said the province is speeding up immediate short-term and long-term plans to improve security at the legislature.
“We are thinking about, broadly, how people access the grounds, how vehicles enter the grounds,” he said.
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.
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.
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.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
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.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.