Thompson RCMP laid dozens of charges after two separate incidents on July 16, 2026, that saw officers seize bear spray, cash, and phones while arresting six people. Four of those arrested were remanded into custody.
At 2:30 p.m., officers on patrol along Highway 391 spotted a speeding vehicle. When they turned on their emergency lights, the vehicle sped down a gravel road to a dead end. One male ran into thick bush and was found about six hours later with help from Manitoba RCMP Police Dog Services and drones. Two full cans of bear spray were found in the trunk.
A 21-year-old Thompson man faces charges including flight from police, dangerous driving, failing to comply with a probation order, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Four others in the vehicle, all males from Nelson House aged 15, 33, and two 24-year-olds, were released on undertakings for possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Later that night, at 9:49 p.m., RCMP were called to a fight outside a business on Public Road. A male victim had sprayed others with bear mace before leaving in a taxi with minor injuries. Officers from the Thompson Crime Suppression Unit and General Duty arrested four people and seized cash, a scale, five smartphones, and bear mace from their vehicle.
Among those arrested, 25-year-old Draiden McDonald of Nelson House, who had an outstanding warrant, was charged with assault with a weapon, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and having property obtained by crime over $5,000. A 19-year-old Winnipeg man, Hayden Duvall, faces charges including carrying a concealed weapon and failing to comply with a probation order. Heston Parisien, 19, of Nelson House, was charged with similar offences plus three counts of failing to follow a release order. A 39-year-old Thompson woman was released on an undertaking for property and weapon charges.
The Thompson Crime Suppression Unit, launched in mid-June with $250,000 in provincial funding, continues to increase police visibility downtown. The unit includes four RCMP officers and four community safety officers. Mayor Colleen Smook said the team is helping residents feel more comfortable spending time downtown.
