ManitobaWinnipeg police say they have arrested three people after obtaining a warrant to search a temporary shelter located at an encampment area in the city — something a police inspector said she believes may be a first for police in the city.Police inspector says she knows of no previous instance where search warrant used at a Winnipeg encampmentCBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2025 5:51 PM EDT | Last Updated: 29 minutes agoWinnipeg police were seen inspecting several bicycles on Wednesday near Waterfront Drive, after executing a search warrant at a temporary shelter located at an encampment area. (Josh Crabb/CBC)Winnipeg police say they have arrested three people after obtaining a warrant to search a temporary shelter located at an encampment area in the city — something a police inspector said she believes may be a first for police in the city.On Wednesday afternoon, police officers were seen in the area of the North Winnipeg Parkway Trail off Waterfront Drive, behind police tape blocking a section of the trail. Officers were seen examining several bicycles along the trail. Winnipeg Police Insp. Helen Peters said police executed a search at 1:30 p.m. on what she said was a temporary wooden frame shelter located along the bike path.Despite the fact the shelter was temporary, Peters said police did obtain a warrant before going in, saying the search was conducted as part of an investigation into the possession of stolen property.”We are cognisant of the fact that this structure may be someone’s temporary shelter, given its location in an encampment area,” Peters told reporters later Wednesday afternoon.”So we have treated this like any other criminal investigation in the city of Winnipeg that involved a person’s residence, by obtaining a search warrant.”Peters said she knows of no previous instances where a search warrant was executed on a temporary shelter in the city, and said typically police will only enter those shelters when they are “welcomed in.””We wouldn’t venture in if we didn’t have the grounds to do so,” she said. Winnipeg police officers were seen in the area of the North Winnipeg Parkway Trail off Waterfront Drive Wednesday afternoon, behind police tape blocking a section of the trail. (Josh Crabb/CBC)She also stressed that officers weren’t in the area to clear or evict anyone from their temporary shelters, and said police had no plans to dismantle the structure that was searched, or any of the others set up in the area. “Someone’s temporary dwelling space does not constitute a criminal offence,” Peters said. Police seized multiple items at the shelter, including what Peters said were bicycle parts.Three people were arrested, but as of Wednesday afternoon no charges had been laid. Peters said the investigation is ongoing.3 arrested after Winnipeg police execute search warrant at encampmentWinnipeg police zeroed in on a temporary shelter at a homeless encampment Wednesday afternoon, after getting a warrant to search it. Three people were arrested and police said numerous bicycle parts were found, which they believe were stolen.With files from Josh Crabb
Winnipeg police arrest 3 after obtaining search warrant for encampment
