Teen turns himself in after off-duty RCMP officer attacked with bottles during Liquor Mart theft

A 16-year-old boy turned himself in to Winnipeg police on Thursday afterallegedly committing more than two dozen thefts at liquor stores, including an incident in which an off-duty RCMP officer was attacked withbottles when he tried to intervene.

"Not sure what prompted this individual to decide it was time to turn themselves in, but that's what happened," saidConst. Jay Murray of the Winnipeg Police Service.

The teen has been charged in connection with two incidents last week, but police believe he is also responsible for stealing "copious amounts of liquor" worth more than$11,000, police say in 23 other incidents of theft from Liquor Marts.

They literally pelted him with liquor bottles, anything they could grab. Even as he backed off, he continued to be hit with these bottles.- Const. Jay Murray

Investigations into those thefts are continuing, according to police.

On Aug. 24, a man and three youths with concealed facesstole between $3,500 and $4,000 worth of alcohol at a Liquor Mart on PembinaHighway, in Winnipeg's Fort Richmond area, before proceeding to another on North Town Road in BridgwaterCentre, police said in a Fridaynews release.

At the second store, the youths were confronted by an off-duty RCMPofficer. They attacked him by throwing liquor bottles, hitting him on the head, and managed to escape. The officer suffered minor injuries, police said.

"The manner in which this RCMP officer was attacked is very alarming. I know it's been the talk of the office amongst detectives that have seen it. It's disturbing to watch," Murray said.

"They literally pelted him with liquor bottles, anything they could grab. Even as he backed off, he continued to be hit with these bottles."

The teen phoned police shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday and asked for officers to come arrest him.

He faces multiple charges, including two counts of robbery and assaulting a peace officer. He was also processed on four outstanding warrants, including six counts of theft under $5,000.

Murray said Winnipeg police have received 1,182 reports of liquor store theftso far this year.