On April 3, 2020, at approximately 9:25 pm, Flin Flon RCMP responded to a call of a disturbance on Second Avenue.
Officers were advised that a 16-year-old male was on the street and was in possession of a knife while making threats to harm a homeowner who resided on the street.
Officers located the youth and placed him under arrest for Uttering Threats and Possession of a Weapon. He was transported to the Creighton RCMP detachment. As the youth was being led into the detachment, he began making threats that included references to COVID-19 and then forcefully coughed multiple times into the officer's face. He was then arrested for Assaulting a Police Officer. He was later released to his family.
It is not believed that the youth has COVID-19 but, as a precautionary measure, the officer is self-monitoring.
"Our officers are focusing on education and are using discretion when it comes to enforcing measures related to COVID-19, however, we will arrest individuals who willfully disregard public health measures and potentially endanger others" said Sgt. Paul Manaigre of the Manitoba RCMP.
Manitoba RCMP remains committed to providing policing services to Manitobans, and wants to remind everyone that we all have a role to play in contributing to public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flin Flon RCMP continue to investigate.