WINNIPEG – Police have charged a man and woman believed to be responsible for three separate robberies and two assaults of delivery drivers in Winnipeg over the last week.
The first incident was on May 10th when a food delivery driver was stabbed. The driver, an adult male, was making a delivery when he was confronted by a man who demanded his money, keys and cell phone. The driver didn’t comply, the suspect then grabbed his cell phone, stabbed him in the upper body and punched him. The driver went to hospital where he was treated and later released.
The second incident was May 13th when another food delivery driver was assaulted and had his vehicle stolen. Police responded to the area it happened, West Transcona, but were unable to locate the stolen vehicle.
In this case, Police said the driver left his keys in the delivery vehicle while he was with a customer. He saw a woman get in the vehicle and tried to stop her by reaching into the car. He was subsequently punched by a man who entered the passenger side of the vehicle before it they took off. The victim was not seriously injured.
The third was May 14th around 3:45 AM, when there was a report of a vehicle stolen by a male suspect which happened while the victim was delivering papers. The vehicle was left on the street with the keys inside.
Tuesday police located and arrested the male suspect, Michael James Reader, 33-years-old, he was charged with:
- Robbery
- Aggravated Assault
- Possession of Break-in Instruments
- Possess Weapon
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime X2
Wednesday morning, around 12:20 AM police spotted a stolen vehicle being driven in the area of Magnus Avenue and McGregor Street. A spike belt had to be used to stop the vehicle in the near Scotia Street and Forrest Avenue. The driver, Cheyenne Beverley Traverse, 25-years-old, was arrested and charged with:
- Robbery
- Possession of Cocaine
- Drive without a Licence or with invalid licence