E-bike rider allegedly pointed loaded gun at police

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen on Sept. 2, 2021 at the Public Information Office in Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

A man is now facing 22 charges after allegedly pointing a loaded firearm at police.

Just after 8 a.m. on Friday, Winnipeg police tried to stop a man riding an electric bicycle northbound along the sidewalk of McGregor Street. Police say he did not stop and turned east on Manitoba Avenue, but eventually stopped in the 500 block of the road.

Officers identified the rider, found he was in violation of the ankle-monitoring program’s conditions and attempted to take him into custody, police said in a media release. During that process, police felt an “unidentified object concealed on his body.”

The rider then “wiggled out of his sweater” and allegedly ran from the officers.

While police were running after him, the man allegedly pointed an object at officers, which was later confirmed as a loaded firearm, the force said.

He was tackled to the ground and the firearm – a sawed-off .22 improvised gun with a live round – slid off across the street.

The man, 35, was cuffed and the weapon was seized. He is now facing 22 charges, including two counts of assaulting peace officer with weapon, 15 firearms-related and five counts of failing to comply with probation order.

No charges have been tested in court and he was detained in custody.