Winnipeg Free Press

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM ● A7 NEWS I CITY / PROVINCE ‘They should have kept him and made sure he was safe’ A 33-YEAR-OLD father who was fatally shot by a Manitoba RCMP officer Tuesday had sought care for his mental health struggles multiple times, but didn’t get the help he needed, his wife has told the Free Press. Chelsea Lakatos-Wiebe said her hus- band Cory Wiebe’s most recent hospital visit was five days before he was shot, while he experienced a mental health crisis at their home in Dominion City, about 75 kilometres south of Winnipeg. “They’d give him meds and let him go,” Lakatos-Wiebe said about his trips to rural hospitals. “He was crying for help and he wanted them to put him somewhere, but they pushed him away.” Lakatos-Wiebe said the health-care system failed her husband and she called on the Manitoba government to improve access to care. “They failed him, but they also failed all these children. He was their hero,” she said. She said Wiebe, originally from Win- nipeg, was a loving husband and fath- er, who leaves behind seven children between the ages of two and 14. The couple had one child together and three each from previous relationships. “He always made sure everyone was taken care of and loved, even though he was hurting,” Lakatos-Wiebe said. The shooting happened outside the family home when officers from the Morris detachment responded to a well- ness call at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Lakatos-Wiebe said she had called 911 to request an ambulance, and then asked police to respond, to seek help for her husband, who was in a state of crisis. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, a civilian police watch- dog, is investigating the shooting. The watchdog said it was informed by RCMP that the first officer to arrive was waiting for backup when they were allegedly confronted by a man who came out of a garage and advanced to- ward the officer with a metal object in his hand. “Despite repeated commands to stop and drop the weapon, the male con- tinued towards the officer, who then discharged his firearm,” a separate RCMP news release said. The officer performed CPR until paramedics, who were staged nearby, arrived and took over, the IIU said. A STARS air ambulance airlifted Wiebe to hospital, where he died, RCMP said. RCMP confirmed that officers from the Morris detachment are not yet equipped with body-worn cameras. A provincewide rollout that began in Nov- ember is expected to take 18 months. Lakatos-Wiebe, 31, was in the house, where she had an obstructed view when the shooting happened. She said she has questions about how the call was han- dled and the level of force used. The couple, who were due to cele- brate their second wedding anniver- sary in February, had been together for five years. Wiebe, a diamond driller whose job took him out of province for weeks at a time, was the family’s sole provider, his wife said. She said Wiebe had a long battle with mental health issues, which were exacerbated when the family was dis- placed by an accidental fire at their home nearly two years ago. They moved back about two months ago, after their home was rebuilt. Lakatos-Wiebe said she continuously encouraged her husband to seek help, which resulted in several visits to rural hospitals. “He wanted to get help, but he needed that push to go,” she said. She said she accompanied him to Boundary Trails Health Centre, located between Morden and Winkler, on Jan. 9, after she urged him to seek treatment for physical and mental health issues. Lakatos-Wiebe said Wiebe, whose diagnoses included bipolar disor- der, told hospital staff he had suicidal thoughts. She questioned why he wasn’t admitted to a facility for mental health care. “They should have kept him and made sure he was safe,” she said. Lakatos-Wiebe said her husband was given medication and a prescription for additional tablets. “He said, ‘I told you I wasn’t going to get the help,’” she said. “I was a hot mess because I knew I could only do so much for him.” Lakatos-Wiebe said improvements are needed to ensure Manitobans get mental health care when they need it. “I’m disgusted with the system,” she said. In separate statements, Mental Health Minister Bernadette Smith and Southern Health offered condolences. “While I can’t comment on the specif- ics as there is an active investigation, we know too many families and com- munities are affected by the loss of a loved one who have struggled with their mental health,” Smith said. “It is clear that there is a need for more mental health services in rural health-care fa- cilities and communities, that’s why we have committed to hiring more mental health workers in our province.” A Southern Health spokesperson said a patient safety team is conducting a review. “We are unable to provide any further information until the review is complete,” the spokesperson said. A GoFundMe page was set up to pro- vide financial support to the family. The widow, who is planning her hus- band’s funeral, said she doesn’t know how she will raise the kids without him. “He loved his family. He was truly a good person,” she said. The IIU has asked witnesses to call investigators at 1-844-667-6060. chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca CHRIS KITCHING ‘He was crying for help and he wanted them to put him somewhere, but they pushed him away’ — Chelsea Lakatos-Wiebe, on her late husband, Cory Wiebe Two arrested, two sought in armed carjacking A 43-YEAR-OLD man was carjacked at gunpoint on William Avenue early Wednesday. Winnipeg police said the man was in a parking lot on the 500 block of Wil- liam at about 6:30 a.m., when a suspect, who was armed with a sawed-off shot- gun, demanded he hand over cash and property. The suspect made off with the man’s keys and stole his Hyundai Santa Fe, peeling out of the lot. The victim wasn’t injured. About two hours later, officers saw the vehicle at Sargent Avenue and Fur- by Street and tried to pull it over. The driver fled and hit a city bus and a po- lice vehicle, police say. Traffic officers found the vehicle at Kate Street near McDermot Avenue and witnessed four people running away. Officers arrested two suspects while two others remain at large. Police found the sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle. Dregus Young, 23, is charged with armed robbery using a firearm and other offences, including two probation order breaches and dangerous driving. Kayla Nepinak, 24, is charged with pos- sessing stolen property and firearms offences. Both were detained. Court records show Young and Ne- pinak have a history of committing rob- bery and violent incidents. In December 2020 in Thompson, Young was given just shy of two years in jail, minus time served, for robbery with a weapon, mischief to property and failing to comply with a court or- der that he not possess weapons for offences he committed in May of that year. He was banned from owning weapons for 10 years, which has subsequently been upgraded to a lifetime ban. Young has been convicted of assault- ing two peace officers in separate inci- dents, assault with a weapon and a court order breach for possessing weapons. In Dauphin in October 2020, Nepinak was convicted of aggravated assault and possession of a stolen car in rela- tion to an incident nine months earlier. She was given 15 months in jail, minus time served, and banned from possess- ing weapons for 10 years. fpcity@freepress.mb.ca No charges for SCO chief in Ottawa bar fight SOUTHERN Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels will not be charged in connection with an alterca- tion outside an Ottawa bar last month. Ottawa Police Service spokeswoman Const. Cailey Walker said the case “is considered closed” but could be re- opened if new information is brought forward. “We did investigate and at this point the file has been closed. That’s really all I can say.” Multiple sources had told the Free Press that Daniels and at least one member of a Manitoba First Nation were involved in an altercation outside a bar. Daniels was taken to hospital and treated. At the time, Ottawa police confirmed they were sent to the ByWard Market on Dec. 3 at 2:30 a.m., and a man had been taken to hospital. They said the matter was still under investigation and no charges had been laid. Daniels took a leave of absence af- ter the incident and Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean was named acting grand chief. Daniels apologized on Dec. 20, saying he was seeking treatment for alcohol use. “I will do better,” he said in a state- ment. “The past few weeks have been a wake-up call and I recognize the need for change in my lifestyle. “Just like anyone who faces the shame of having personal struggles laid bare, I wish I had been honest sooner about my challenges with alcohol.” Daniels also said he was committed to entering a program that included both alcohol treatment and traditional ceremony. The leave of absence was to end on Jan. 6. An official with SCO could not be reached for comment to confirm whether Daniels is back at work. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca KEVIN ROLLASON Widow of man killed by Mountie angry with health-care system ;