UPDATE: The Brandon Police Service reports that on the evening of November 15, 2023, 28-year-old Eric Lepine died of his injuries in Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre. On November 16, 2023, police arrested 32-year-old Ryan Mecas while he was in Brandon Correctional Centre on an additional Charge of Second-Degree Murder. He will appear today in court. MECAS Appeared in court on November 13, 2023, on charges of Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon and Arson with Disregard for Human Life.
ORIGINAL MEDIA RELEASE: On 2023-11-13, at approximately 1:15pm, the Brandon Police Service received a report from the 800 block of 15th Street that a suspect was attacking people with a hammer. A description of the suspect was provided by witnesses on scene, and officers subsequently located the accused a short distance from the area. While on scene, 911 received a second call of a possible house fire on the same block. Brandon Fire (BFES) attended the home and made entry after witnesses indicated that a victim of the hammer attack was potentially still inside the building. An adult male was pulled from the burning house by BFES. The patient was found to have severe trauma to his head from multiple hammer strikes and was transported to the BRHC before being air lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg. Investigation resulted in learning that the initial fire to the home was deliberately set using accelerants. A canister of accelerant and the weapon used during the assault was recovered by police at the scene of the fire. A second adult male victim was found to have been struck in the head with a hammer by the suspect, however sustained minor injuries to the top of his head. The suspect and the victims are known to each other, and the most recent medical condition of the victim transported to HSC is listed as “critical but stable”. A 32-year-old male has been lodged at BPS to appear for court 2023-11-14, for the charges of Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon, and Arson with Disregard for Human Life.
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On November 16, 2023, at approximately 8:00 pm, police responded to a report of an intoxicated female at a business in the 000 block of 10th Street. The 22-year-old was in no condition to care for herself and had nowhere to go. She was lodged at Brandon Police Service until sober.
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On November 17, 2023, shortly before 1:00 am, Brandon police responded to a report of a break and enter to a business in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue. The suspect allegedly broke in through a window. When members arrived, the 41-year-old male was found hiding inside. He was arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on a charge of Break and Enter.
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On November 16, 2023, police responded to a report of a male behaving erratically on Alaska Bay at approximately 12:00 pm. Police say the male was reportedly banging on doors, drawing on walls, kicking things and threatening to throw boiling water on others. When police arrived, he was holding a pot of water that he indicated was boiling. Officers attempted to arrest the male, but he resisted, and a Conducted Energy Weapon was deployed to gain his compliance. An officer was assaulted during the arrest but was not injured. A 38-year-old male was later released to appear in court on February 1, 2024, on charges of Assault PO, Uttering Threats, and Resist Arrest.
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On November 16, 2023, Brandon police responded to a report of a 30-year-old male at a residence and in contact with the homeowner contrary to a release condition. The male was arrested at the scene and later released to appear in court on January 25, 2024, on a charge of Fail to Comply with Undertaking.
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On November 16, 2023, at approximately 5:30 pm, police responded to a report of a male at a restaurant in the 000 block of McTavish Ave, who allegedly ate a meal and would not pay for it. A 42-year-old male was arrested at the restaurant and later released to appear in court on December 28, 2023, on a charge of Fraudulently Obtain Food.
