Winnipeg police, RCMP at scene of investigation near St. Malo
CBC News | Posted: November 2, 2015 7:15 PM | Last Updated: November 3, 2015
Police say investigation focusing outside community 60 kilometres south of Winnipeg
A criminal investigation involving both the Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP is underway near St. Malo, Man.
Little information is being provided at this time.
All a city police spokesman would say is that it is associated with an investigation the WPS has been working on for some time, and it has now taken them out there.
Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) Const. Rob Carver told media at a 3:30 p.m. that officers remain on the scene and have secured the area.
"It's not a standoff," Carver said. "We don't have any concerns for public safety at this point."
The city spokesman said the focus is not in a residential area but is outside of the community, which is about 60 kilometres south of Winnipeg, off Highway 59.
A police tactical unit arrived in the area just after 3 p.m., CBC's Holly Caruk reported from the scene. Officers were also seen setting up nearby on Lambert Street with rifles drawn.
It appears they have a property surrounded and have blocked traffic on all of the access roads nearby, Caruk said, adding she overheard an officer tell a passerby that they were looking for someone.
'Quiet town'
Jason LaFrance and his family live within walking distance of where the tactical unit was stationed. He said it's a "quiet town" and the large police presence is rare for the area.
"I live on the outskirts. We've got the doors locked and we're sort of monitoring our own situation here," LaFrance said, adding he counted 12 or 13 tactical vehicles on Lambert.
"I came home and we closed the garage door and locked the house up really, because we don't know what's going on either."
LaFrance added that RCMP have visited one of his neighbours but didn't disclose many details in their discussion about the investigation.
Kevin Runke, the ex-husband of a woman who was killed in Winnipeg on Friday, has family in St. Malo, his previous employer says.
The WPS is leading the investigation.
No more details are available at this time.