Police appeal to pedestrians, e-bike riders for info after death of man in Edmonton

WINNIPEG – A man and a woman in Winnipeg face numerous animal cruelty charges in a case where police allege cats were tortured and videos and photos of the incidents were posted to the internet.

Const. Stephen Spencer says the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian Animal Welfare contacted police in August about images of animals being tortured and killed that were posted on the dark web.

Spencer says approximately 10 cats were believed to be involved, some of which were acquired from social media sales platforms, and investigators believe the video and photos were created and posted in Winnipeg.

A search warrant was executed in the city’s Lord Roberts neighbourhood, and a 55-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were arrested.

Spencer says the pair were known to police, but he did not have information on how they knew each other.

Both of the accused remain in custody.

“Investigators told me that this is the worst case that they’ve dealt with — a very horrible case involving animal cruelty,” Spencer told a news conference on Friday.

“I can say anecdotally when individuals are believed to be involved in heinous crimes against helpless animals, it often leads to escalating violent behaviour towards humans, so we take that very seriously.”

Investigators are still working on a motive in the case, Spencer said. He said someone viewed the disturbing content online and then contacted the province.

Police in Winnipeg have also been investigating cases of cats being found dead in the Point Douglas area, but Spencer said investigators do not believe the cases are related at this time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

EDMONTON – Homicide detectives in Edmonton are investigating the death of a man who was found injured on a footbridge that spans the North Saskatchewan River.

The Edmonton Police Service says EMS responded at around 9:15 p.m. Friday to the Dudley B. Menzies Bridge, which is a suspended footpath underneath the LRT bridge across the river.

A 68-year-old man was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

The LRT bridge and footpath are near the High Level Bridge which overlooks them, and police say there were numerous pedestrians and e-bike riders in the area at the time.

They’re asking anyone with information about the case to contact investigators immediately, and that anyone with GoPro cameras or similar devices who was in the area at the time should also come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – Police in New Westminster, B.C., say they have arrested a person suspected of stabbing two people at a Skytrain station in the city.

They say numerous people had called to report a stabbing on Columbia Street, outside the station around 6:45 p.m. on Friday.

Police say officers rushed to the scene and arrested someone matching the suspect’s description.

They say investigators confirmed that two people had been stabbed, one had suffered minor injuries while the second victim was left with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Police say the suspect remains in custody.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and have not yet spoken to police to reach out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.