On March 24, 2026, police arrested a 24-year-old man and laid 14 charges after searching a home in the Townsite area of Sandy Bay, Manitoba. The Manitoba First Nations Police Service carried out the search with help from the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
Officers found evidence of several weapons crimes, including a homemade gun, other firearms, and prohibited ammunition. Jonathon Thomas Richard now faces charges for pointing a firearm, careless storage of firearms, and assaulting a police officer with a weapon.
Richard is also charged with having body armour without a permit, which is against the Body Armour and Fortified Vehicle Control Act. This provincial law was created to make sure that only people with a legitimate need can own protective vests.
The arrest happened one week after the police service launched its new Crime Reduction and Enforcement Unit on March 17, 2026. This specialized team was formed to focus on taking illegal guns and drugs out of the community.
The accused appeared in court in Portage la Prairie on March 25, 2026. The Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation is located on the shore of Lake Manitoba, about 90 kilometres from the courthouse.
