Winnipeg man wanted in liquor theft later reported missing by family

Mounties are searching for a suspect after a store clerk was injured trying to prevent a theft.

Mounties in Powerview, Man., are searching for a Winnipeg man after a liquor robbery led to a store employee being run over by an ATV.

RCMP said officers were called Saturday night to a robbery at a business on Highway 59 in the RM of Alexander.

Police say a man was seen stealing liquor. An employee then tried to stop him from driving away on an ATV. Officers say he held onto the suspect until he fell into the ditch. The suspect then ran him over and drove away, police allege.

Police say they searched the ditch and found the stolen liquor, a knife and a jacket.

The employee, a 40-year-old man from the RM of Victoria Beach, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to hospital.

Mounties say they later saw the ATV on Highway 11 near Sagkeeng Junior High School. They attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to pull over, police said.

He then fled into the wooded area behind Turtle Lodge towards the townsite.

Officers and police dogs searched for the man but did not find him.

RCMP have since issued an arrest warrant for 27-year-old Kevin Courchene from Winnipeg. He faces a number of charges, including aggravated assault, robbery and seven counts of failure to comply with a release order.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Meanwhile, police say Courchene has not been seen or heard from since the incident and has been reported missing by his family, who are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone who has any information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Powerview RCMP at 204-367-2222 or Crime Stoppers.