New Manitoba investigative unit busy since it formed, director says

The Independent Investigations Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has only been up and running for five months, but it's been busy.

The unit investigates all serious cases involving on and off-duty police in the province.

ZaneTessler, the executive director of the IIU, said he expected the unit would have a steady workload, but not as steady as it's been since June.

"No, I have to admit that we have been fairly busy, busier than I had anticipated for the first few months at least," saidTessler. "But we've been able to handle the matters."

To date, they've been involved in 18 investigations, eight of which involved a fatality.

"There is no doubt we are busy,"Tesslersaid.

Fatal Portage crash

The latest case involving the IIU happened on Monday morning.

Investigators were called after a police chase ended in a fatal crash on Portage Avenue.

• Woman, 27, dies in Portage Avenue crash following police chase in Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Police Service said the driver, a 27-year-old woman, had been involved in a commercial robbery on Dale Boulevard in theCharleswoodneighbourhood. A chase then ensued that led police downtown.

Fatal crash on Portage Avenue

9 years ago

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One person is dead following a police chase that ended when an SUV slammed into a building in downtown Winnipeg.

The woman's vehicle hit a series of objects on the street and sidewalkbefore crashing and coming to a stop outside the University of Winnipeg'sBuhlerCentre at Portage and Good Street. She was taken to hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

A 30-year-old man, who police said was apassenger in the vehicle,ran fromthe scene but was found andarrested. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police-involved shootings

The unit was also called to investigate a deadly police shooting in Thompson last weekend.

Police pulled over a car after it was spotted driving erratically onSaturday morning. An officer got out of the police cruiser and approached the vehicle. That's when the driver accelerated and struck the officer,RCMPsaid.

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The officer then opened fire. The male driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The police gunfire alsoinjured a female passenger, theIIU said. She was transported to hospital with serious injuries.

In another case in October, a man was shot to death by police after leading dozens of cruisers on a chase.

It ended in a field at Kapyong Barracks, the former military base on Kenaston Boulevard and Grant Avenue.

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Tessler said that if the IIU ever getsbogged down with too many investigations, it will reach out to independent investigative units in other provinces for help.