Suspect in two stabbings jumps in river to avoid Winnipeg police

A man accused of two stabbings attempted to evade Winnipeg Police Saturday by jumping into the river inPoint Douglas.

Police initially responded to a reported stabbing at 8 p.m. in the park at Portage Avenue and Carlton Street where officers found a man in his 50s in critical condition, according to a Sunday news release. The man was transported to the hospital and stabilized.

At 8:30 p.m. officers responded to a second stabbingat Graham Avenue and Garry Street that left a male victim in his 20s seriously injured. He was transported to the hospital and is now in stable condition.

Police say the suspect left the area on a bus before escaping on foot.

General patrol members, the tactical Support Team, K9 Unit and AIR1 searched the area before locating the suspect in the river near Point Douglas. He eventually swam back to the bank and taken into custody.

Police say the accused, a 38-year-old man, and first victim kneweach other and were consuming alcohol. An altercation took place, and the victim was stabbed in the upper body.

Two individuals followed the accused and confronted him at the second location, where one of them wasthen stabbed, according to the release.

The 38-year-old Winnipeg man is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and failing to comply with a condition of undertaking in relation to the attacks.

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