‘Despicable incident': Charges laid in racially motivated assault in Winkler
On June 15 at approximately 1:26 a.m., the Winkler Police Service received a report of screaming in the Harmony Lane area. Upon arriving, officers found a man who was assaulted and had his turban removed.
Three male suspects, residents of Winkler who fled the scene on foot, were also reported to have yelled racial slurs at the victim, according to Winkler Police Chief Ryan Hunt.
Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens said the incident was 'despicable' in a statement, adding that it's not something the city in southern Manitoba is used to seeing.
'We are generally a safe and welcoming community,' said Siemens. 'Personal crimes like this are uncharacteristic in Winkler.'
Hunt said random assaults are 'very uncommon' in the city, particularly those that are racially driven, and said the suspects are known to police.
Steve Reynolds, executive director of the Winkler branch of Regional Connections Immigrant Services, said the incident is upsetting.
'Seeing something like that happen in the community is jarring for people and shocking for people, and I guess especially considering the kind of a big draw for newcomers in Winkler—and places like Winkler—that we hear about all the time is the safety of the community.'
According to Statistics Canada, immigrants make up over 25 per cent of Winkler's population, which was 13,745 in 2021.
A 16-year-old, an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old have been charged with several offences, including assault, after being located nearby with the assistance of the Morden Police Service.
Two of the accused teenagers were also charged with resisting arrest.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
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