Driver who dragged cop blames officer
I can't imagine seeing this take place. It would be surreal. Some of the things we see in the City of Winnipeg make me think that the things they see in the U.S. news are acceptable here. The remarks by those committing the crimes are shocking. It's like they have no remorse and they don't figure that their actions should have consequences.
Driver who dragged cop blames officer
He ‘shouldn’t have held on,’ man says
By Mike McIntyre
I T was like a scene out of a movie: a Winnipeg police officer dragged by a speeding vehicle for several blocks, desperately trying to get the driver to slow down.
Now the Crown is seeking a four-year prison sentence for the man responsible for the dangerous rampage through West Kildonan.
Zsolt Takacs, 51, pleaded guilty to several charges including criminal negligence causing bodily harm and motor vehicle flight from police stemming from the May 2011 incident. Details of the incident emerged publicly for the first time at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
Two police officers were en route to a high-priority domestic call when they encountered Takacs on Main Street. He refused to pull to the side for their vehicle and deliberately tried to obstruct them, court was told.
At that point, the officers abandoned the initial call and tried to pull Takacs over, suspecting he may be impaired or driving a stolen vehicle. He accelerated to 100 km/h in the 60 km/h zone and went through several stop signs while driving on residential streets. Police eventually boxed his car and it stopped.
That’s when things went completely off the rails.
One of the officers approached the driver’s side to inform Takacs of his arrest and opened the car door. Takacs suddenly accelerated, catching the officer in the door and dragging him. This continued for nearly four blocks at high speeds and included the officer punching Takacs in the face trying to get him to stop the car.
“Stop the (expletive) car, we’re both going to die,” Const. Blair Scott shouted at one point. One leg was dangling out the door while his police radio bounced off the pavement, court was told.
Scott managed to “mount” Takacs and reach over and put the car into park, bringing it to a sudden halt. Takacs was then Tasered twice by other officers who rushed to the scene. Scott also received an electric jolt during the melee.
Scott and Takacs suffered several injuries that required medical treatment. When asked why he refused to pull over, Takacs said “I was mad” at police and added “That cop shouldn’t have held on.”
“I wanted to be a cop. This seemed like the closest to it. It seemed like a movie, you know what I mean?” Takacs said.
Scott gave a victim impact statement at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
“I’ve absolutely failed to comprehend what was going through his head. You put so many lives in danger,” he told Takacs. “I don’t feel his actions should be swept under the justice system rug.”
The Crown wants a four-year sentence for Takacs, who has no prior criminal record. Defence lawyer Kathy Bueti is seeking a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
She said Takacs, who is originally from Hungary, grew up with a serious mistrust of police, which contributed to his decision to keep driving.
Queen’s Bench Justice Rick Saull has reserved his decision until June 23.
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He ‘shouldn’t have held on,’ man says
By Mike McIntyre
I T was like a scene out of a movie: a Winnipeg police officer dragged by a speeding vehicle for several blocks, desperately trying to get the driver to slow down.
Now the Crown is seeking a four-year prison sentence for the man responsible for the dangerous rampage through West Kildonan.
Zsolt Takacs, 51, pleaded guilty to several charges including criminal negligence causing bodily harm and motor vehicle flight from police stemming from the May 2011 incident. Details of the incident emerged publicly for the first time at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
Two police officers were en route to a high-priority domestic call when they encountered Takacs on Main Street. He refused to pull to the side for their vehicle and deliberately tried to obstruct them, court was told.
At that point, the officers abandoned the initial call and tried to pull Takacs over, suspecting he may be impaired or driving a stolen vehicle. He accelerated to 100 km/h in the 60 km/h zone and went through several stop signs while driving on residential streets. Police eventually boxed his car and it stopped.
That’s when things went completely off the rails.
One of the officers approached the driver’s side to inform Takacs of his arrest and opened the car door. Takacs suddenly accelerated, catching the officer in the door and dragging him. This continued for nearly four blocks at high speeds and included the officer punching Takacs in the face trying to get him to stop the car.
“Stop the (expletive) car, we’re both going to die,” Const. Blair Scott shouted at one point. One leg was dangling out the door while his police radio bounced off the pavement, court was told.
Scott managed to “mount” Takacs and reach over and put the car into park, bringing it to a sudden halt. Takacs was then Tasered twice by other officers who rushed to the scene. Scott also received an electric jolt during the melee.
Scott and Takacs suffered several injuries that required medical treatment. When asked why he refused to pull over, Takacs said “I was mad” at police and added “That cop shouldn’t have held on.”
“I wanted to be a cop. This seemed like the closest to it. It seemed like a movie, you know what I mean?” Takacs said.
Scott gave a victim impact statement at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
“I’ve absolutely failed to comprehend what was going through his head. You put so many lives in danger,” he told Takacs. “I don’t feel his actions should be swept under the justice system rug.”
The Crown wants a four-year sentence for Takacs, who has no prior criminal record. Defence lawyer Kathy Bueti is seeking a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
She said Takacs, who is originally from Hungary, grew up with a serious mistrust of police, which contributed to his decision to keep driving.
Queen’s Bench Justice Rick Saull has reserved his decision until June 23.
www.mikeoncrime.com
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jury acquits accused in fatal bathhouse fire
Jury acquits accused in fatal bathhouse fire
By Mike McIntyre
JUSTIN Rosdobutko has maintained for years police got the wrong guy.
Now a jury has seemingly agreed, finding him not guilty of setting a deadly 2009 fire inside a Winnipeg bathhouse.
Rosdobutko, 31, was acquitted Wednesday afternoon of two counts of manslaughter and walked out of court a free man. Jurors reached their verdict after only about 30 minutes of deliberations.
“It’s probably one of the quickest results I’ve ever seen in Manitoba,” defence lawyer Todd Bourcier said outside court. “He has always said he wasn’t the one who did this. My client is ecstatic with the result. It has been a long process.”
There was no doubt it was arson that killed two men inside the Aquarius Men’s Bathhouse on Notre Dame Avenue. But the key question was whether the right man was on trial.
There was no forensic evidence tying Rosdobutko to the crime. All justice officials had was opportunity, a possible motive and a key witness against Rosdobutko in the form of a longtime friend who went with him on the night of the incident.
Randy Soper claims Rosdobutko admitted setting the fire as they stood outside the scene while firefighters battled the flames. And it came shortly after Rosdobutko had expressed anger while he was inside the facility following a sexual encounter with a cross-dresser.
“He was in shock and disbelief when the accused confessed to him,” Crown attorney Deann Sahulka told jurors in summarizing her case earlier this week.
But Bourcier suggested it was Soper who may have set the fire. The man has a prior criminal record, was intoxicated and admits only going with Rosdobutko that night at his friend’s urging. Soper told jurors he was extremely uncomfortable in the bathhouse and lied to police in his initial statement by saying he didn’t know what happened.
“He is not credible. He is not reliable. His evidence doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” Bourcier said in his closing arguments. “He’s trying to whitewash the evidence to make himself look good. There’s nothing but doubt here. There’s nothing but questions.”
Jurors clearly agreed.
“The evidence speaks for itself. They (jurors) certainly weren’t satisfied with the Crown’s case,” Bourcier said Wednesday.
The Crown had argued Soper’s initial hesitation to speak with police was an attempt to protect the friend he’s known since junior high school.
Steven Yablonski, 23, and Robert Gene Clark, 62, died inside the bathhouse on Oct. 11, 2009. Yablonski, a popular local entertainer, and Clark, who was from Saskatchewan, died of smoke inhalation. Up to 40 others escaped the massive blaze. The fire caused about $500,000 damage to the property at 457 Notre Dame Ave.
Rosdobutko was accused of setting two separate fires in the building early that morning. The Crown only called six witnesses, including a fireinvestigation expert who detailed exactly how the crime occurred.
Rosdobutko has been free on bail since shortly after his arrest. The case dragged through the system so long because of delays that included the first attempt at trial ending in a mistrial due to issues with the fire investigator’s evidence.
www.mikeoncrime.com
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Murder charge in fatal stabbing
When I read this story, I was shocked at this, among other things happening in the schools today, took place in Winnipeg. I used to think that there should not be locker searches or metal detectors at the entrances. You see these things when you watch movies from the U.S. I didn't believe that anything like this was necessary here in Canada. If these actions continue to happen, I think that it might be a good investment, considering the teachers of today are not allowed to touch or discipline the students. It's pretty sad that they have to put their hands on the students to save their lives though, isn't it!!!
Murder charge in fatal stabbing
Ex-Kelvin student mourned after shocking incident outside school
By Katie May and Jessica Botelho-Urbanski
A17-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged with second-degree murder as family and friends mourn a “loyal, caring” teen who was stabbed to death outside Kelvin High School Tuesday.
The suspect is a student at Kelvin and was arrested outside the school Tuesday following the lunch-hour stabbing of Brett Bourne, 17.
Bourne and a 16-year-old male student were fighting at around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday when the 16-year-old “disengaged,” police said. Then, a 17-year-old boy allegedly jumped in and stabbed Bourne.
Investigators believe the fight had to do with personal relationships, but did not provide more details. Bourne’s friends and fellow students have told the Free Press they believe the boys were fighting over a girl.
The 17-year-old youth was first questioned as a witness at the scene and then arrested as a suspect.
Bourne’s death was shocking, said 16-year-old Shaynna Andrew, who had known Bourne for five years and considered him an older brother, one who loved playing video games, binging on Netflix, passing around a football, partying and “typical teenage stuff.”
“This was so unnecessary. Hopefully people can take this and realize that if you kill someone, there’s going to be so many people hurt,” she said.
Andrew said she was with Bourne at his house just half an hour before he was stabbed and they made plans to hang out again over the weekend. Bourne was two days from payday at his new job, and they were looking forward to going to Moxie’s afterward. Bourne didn’t mention he’d be going to Kelvin later that day, and Andrew said his death means she’s lost a “once-in-a-lifetime friendship.”
“Brett was a very caring guy, and if I could choose one word to describe Brett, it would be loyalty. Brett was loyal to those he really did love. If he truly cared and loved you, he would do anything for you.”
She said Bourne’s mother and older brother are grieving privately.
“It’s going to take a lot of time, and that goes for all of us. Everyone is really devastated by this, and it’s going to take everyone a lot of time to get over it.”
Police don’t believe the stabbing was gang- or drug-related. Neither the victim nor the accused had any significant involvement with police, Const. Jason Michalyshen said.
“We’re talking about an incident here obviously involving relationships and some ongoing issues, and clearly an individual, based on the information that we have right now, made a very extreme decision. We’re sorting through what exactly transpired,” he said.
On Tuesday afternoon, several students described hearing a fight break out between Bourne and a student near the southeast school doors and later seeing the victim fall to the ground, badly injured. School staff “played a vital part” in helping with the investigation, Michalyshen said.
Winnipeg School Division chairman Mark Wasyliw praised the efforts of Kelvin staff, who kept students in a “hold and secure” drill where no one entered or left the building for about two hours after the incident.
“The only way you stop violence in school is through prevention and through creating a climate that’s safe and respectful. And we’re going to continue to do that,” Wasyliw said. The school will conduct an internal investigation to see whether there should be added security measures, he said.
In recent years, school killings elsewhere have led to calls for private security guards in schools, metal detectors, even arming teachers.
Manitoba has rejected such measures, opting for inside and outside security cameras, lockdown procedures schools practise regularly, and greater monitoring and control of entrances.
A Winnipeg police school-resource officer is stationed at Kelvin, but Const. Michalyshen said Wednesday morning he didn’t know whether the officer was present at the time of the stabbing.
He said police and administrators need to have “some deep conversations” about how best to keep students safe.
“It would be too early to say for sure whether this one incident is now going to create more of a police presence at that school. It’s certainly a possibility. That would be a decision that the executive would have to make,” Michalyshen said. Wasyliw said there are nine resource officers who take care of 77 schools in the division.
Kelvin students were quick to defend their school’s safety procedures and reputation Wednesday.
During their lunch hour Wednesday, about a dozen students clad in black gathered near the southeast doors of the school where their former classmate was fatally stabbed. They hugged and laid bouquets of flowers and handwritten notes. One female Grade 11 student, who spoke on behalf of the group under condition of anonymity, said the Kelvin students want the public to know theirs is a school where they feel safe and where violent incidents rarely occur.
“This situation does not reflect on how we are. It was a bad situation; it shouldn’t have happened,” she said. “I chose Kelvin because (it’s) safe… I had a bullying problem in Grade 9 from (someone in) an older grade. That was an issue, but I talked with the staff and they dealt with it right away. They dealt with it in a proper, respectful kind of manner, and that’s what kind of school Kelvin is.”
Students and members of the school division said a vigil or assembly has not yet been planned to remember Bourne. The school is waiting on more information from the police before proceeding with a ceremony, Wasyliw said.
Police seized security video from Kelvin, the second-largest high school in Winnipeg with 1,350 students.
Ten grief counsellors are on hand at the school to help console students who want to talk. Most of the students are continuing to come to school to help each other cope, the Grade 11 girl said.
“Everyone is super-shook by it. Everyone is kind of hurt, but we’re all sticking together, and we’re all being a family,” she said. “One of our family members is gone now, and we are remembering the good times we had with him.”
In 2012, nearly 20 kids armed themselves with machetes and baseball bats in a reportedly drug-related brawl at the school that sent five to hospital. And in 2007, a machete-armed 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man both faced criminal charges after they fought near the school.
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teen dead after fight in school
Te en dead after fight in school
Student in custody following fatal stabbing
By Katie May
A LUNCH-HOUR stabbing at Kelvin High School Tuesday left one teen dead and another in custody.
Sources have identified former Kelvin student Brett Bourne as the victim in the attack, which happened on school grounds around 12:30 p.m. near the Crescentwood school’s southeast doors.
Police haven’t released the identity of the victim or commented on his condition, but the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed in a news release officers have taken a young man into custody and continue to investigate.
Several students described hearing a fight break out inside the school between Bourne and another young man, described as a Kelvin student, and then seeing the victim stumble outside and fall to the ground.
Jack Syverson, 16, saw the end of the fight. From a car parked on Kingsway Avenue, less than a block from the scene, Syverson saw the teen fall.
“I just thought he got knocked out, just with a punch,” Syverson said. “... He tried to get up, and just collapsed.”
Crowded around the victim was a group of students, Syverson said, “just talking, panicking.”
Syverson said a series of Kelvin teachers came out quickly, one calling an ambulance and another starting chest compressions. He said the victim showed a teacher the wound, although Syverson couldn’t see a weapon.
For Syverson, it was surreal.
“I kind of felt a little sick,” he recalled. “I just never thought it would happen to a guy our age.”
Syverson once played football with the victim and remembers him as a “good guy”.
“He was nice, he was friendly,” Syverson said. “I had nothing wrong with him, nothing bad to say about him.”
Grade 9 student Sophia Vodniza said she was returning to school after lunch when she saw teachers hunched over the youth, giving him CPR.
“It was kind of scary. When I came back, I didn’t want to go back to school,” because of the panicked atmosphere, she said. The victim was no longer a Kelvin student, reportedly leaving the school last year without graduating.
Some of the teen’s former classmates suggested the fight involved a longstanding dispute between the victim and the other teen involved.
The school was locked down briefly with no one allowed in or out. The lockdown remained in effect until about 2 p.m. as police surrounded the area with yellow caution tape and blocked traffic in all directions.
An 18-year-old student said the lockdown prompted her and a group of students to crowd into the corner of a library and huddle there for about 20 minutes.
“It didn’t feel real,” she said.
Her 17-year-old friend said the emergency was shocking and “really confusing.” About to graduate, the Grade 12 student said it was disappointing “to leave on such a sad note, everything was disorganized.”
When classes ended for the day, students emerging from the school expressed shock and grief as rumours swirled about what had happened. “It was really tense,” said Hannah Jones-Waterman, 15, a Grade 9 student. “Everybody kept talking about it, everyone was panicking, no one really knew what was going on.”
Grade 12 student Michael Byun said he was inside helping with the school election when his girlfriend texted him that she had seen a teen boy bleeding and “mass panic ensued.”
“You kind of have to expect it going in and you have to be aware that you are potentially getting into some dangerous situations if you’re dealing with the wrong people,” Byun said.
Bourne was “just an average guy” who liked playing soccer, said Julian Avila. Avila, a Grade 11 student at Glenlawn Collegiate, said he and Bourne went to middle school together and he was hit hard by the news that his childhood friend was stabbed.
“(It’s) really scary, obviously,” he said. “My best wishes go out to him and his family.”
Other students were unfazed as they watched the police investigation unfold in front of the school during the lockdown, texting friends inside to let them know they were OK.
The Winnipeg School Division issued a statement about the “unfortunate incident” Tuesday afternoon.
“Kelvin High School staff immediately took steps to ensure the safety of students and 911 was called,” it read.
Winnipeg School Division trustee Sherri Rollins praised the staff at Kelvin for handling the crisis.
“I would like to commend the school community and professional staff who on any given day do incredible work and — on this day — responded admirably, above and beyond what anyone could be asked to do.”
She said education officials will try to learn from the tragedy.
“In the coming days and weeks, we will look to see if more could have been done and — more importantly — if there is anything further we can do to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
— with files from Aidan Geary, Jessica Botelho-Urbanski and Nick Martin
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what would you do if this was your son?
The young man in this story recklessly started a fire and states that he does not remember doing so. I really don't think that he should be receiving an 18 month probation outside of a hospital. I think he should be receiving a sentence that is served in a hospital receiving care for the existing problem. I think he should be under a doctor's care until cleared.
Teen avoids jail time for 2013 fire at HSC
By James Turner
A young Winnipeg man won’t see real jail time after admitting he sparked a $7-million arson at the Health Sciences Centre complex.
The accused, now 18, was charged months after a massive March 2013 blaze at an HSC construction site.
The fire and resulting smoke triggered a dramatic evacuation of Children’s Hospital, prosecutors told court Tuesday morning.
Evacuees included more than 100 patients — including newborns and other sick children, Crown attorney Mike Himmelman said.
Winnipeg police charged the then-16-yearold with arson under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
He cannot be identified by law. He recently pleaded guilty and appeared in court to learn his fate.
“You placed a great deal of vulnerable people at risk,” said provincial court Judge Lynn Stannard.
Stannard approved a sentence of six months deferred custody to be followed by 18 months of supervised probation for the teen, meaning he’ll serve his time in the community and not in a jail cell.
Deferred custody under the YCJA is equivalent to a conditional sentence given to adult offenders.
The accused was admitted to Children’s Hospital just before setting the fire.
His mother suspected he’d overdosed on drugs, appeared to be having seizures and was possibly suicidal, court heard.
He slipped away from his ward and found his way into a nearby construction site for a planned $59-million diagnostic imaging centre. He lit two separate fires, one of which sent smoke billowing into the Children’s Hospital.
Officials immediately triggered an evacuation and diverted two ambulances away from the facility, said Himmelman.
Security staff found the teen soon after with a cigarette lighter, court heard. He was also spotted on surveillance video in a hospital stairwell.
The most recent damage estimate pegged the overall value of the blaze at $7.2 million, not including the cost of any construction delay, said Himmelman.
“The seriousness of this arson offence can’t be overstated,” said Himmelman.
The teen had no recollection of starting the fire and tearfully told a probation officer he “felt horrible” about what happened.
“I did something like that to a bunch of innocent kids... they didn’t deserve that,” the accused told the officer.
He had no criminal record. He’s made strides to deal with his addictions issues while on bail following his arrest, court heard.
Citing his lack of criminal history, Stannard described the event as “a blip” in his life, “a very serious, dangerous blip.”
He must obtain counselling and addictions treatment as part of his sentence. He could see his sentence converted into actual jail time if he breaches any conditions of his house arrest, Stannard said.
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I agree with supreme court - lack of appeal
SCOC won’t hear Labossire appeal
O TTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada refused this week to hear the appeal of a man convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents and brother.
Denis Jrme Labossire was found guilty in 2012 of three counts of first-degree murder for the 2005 deaths he orchestrated. Someone else carried them out.
The bodies of Fernand Labossire, 78, his wife Rita, 74, and their son, Rmi, 44, were found in their burned-out farmhouse in St. Leon. During the original trial, jurors were told Labossire was angry that his brother was given the farm instead of him and felt Rmi was mismanaging it.
Labossire appealed his convictions to the Manitoba Court of Appeal, arguing the jury hadn’t been properly warned about the possibility of tainted testimony from one of Labossire’s co-accused who struck a deal and testified for the crown.
That appeal was dismissed so Labossire sought a hearing at the country’s highest court.
That request was denied Thursday. The Supreme Court gives no reason when it dismisses a request for an appeal.
The grave of Fernand, Rita Labossire. Their son Denis Jrme Labossire was convicted of killing them.
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
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I am wondering what this man was thinking making unsuspected victims a part of his pornography. Better yet, what he is left with. I am sure this will follow him through his whole life. I am trusting that this will not scar all those involved with his voyeurism. I do not believe that three years is enough for this husband, father, caregiver, and friend.
three years is no where near enough!!
Three years for case of hidden cams
By Mike McIntyre
A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to three years in prison for using hidden spy cameras to record numerous unsuspecting family members, coworkers and friends during their most private moments.
The 44-year-old, who can’t be named to protect the identities of his victims, pleaded guilty to charges of voyeurism and making child pornography. The Crown had been seeking up to eight years in prison for one of the biggest cases of its kind ever discovered in the province.
Provincial court Judge Brent Stewart ruled earlier that was “too extreme,” but also balked at the accused’s bid for just 15 months behind bars then probation.
A total of 21 victims — 12 children and nine adults — were identified on hundreds of videos police seized from the man’s computers. They were shot from 2009 to 2012 at a Winnipeg group home where he worked during the week, inside his Gimli residence where he spent the weekends and at the family cottage in Ontario.
The victims included the man’s teen foster son, his wife, his teen daughter, many of her young friends and even some of his fellow group-home employees. All of the videos, which were explicitly labelled and organized, were shot with tiny pen cameras he’d hidden throughout several bathrooms in question.
The victims were recorded while using the toilet and taking showers. All of them were female, except for his teen foster son, who may have inadvertently been caught on camera.
“The aggravating factors of this case are clear. The nature of the victims is the most alarming point,” Stewart said in his eight-page written decision. “The invasion of privacy for all of the victims, youth or adult, is sickening, and the sheer number of captured videos reflect scores of unsuspecting victims, many who are not even identified.”
The man was caught when his foster son discovered one of the hidden cameras in the bathroom, then told others about it. That led to police involvement, a series of search warrants and the videos surfacing.
“I would like to apologize for the hurt that I’ve caused, for the scars I’ve created. I lost sight of being a husband, a father, a caregiver, a friend. I took advantage of innocence and invaded trust and privacy,” the man said at his sentencing hearing.
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