Cannabis store employee sexually assaulted during robbery, Winnipeg police say

The Winnipeg Police Service downtown headquarters is shown in a file image. (Jon Hendricks/CTV News Winnipeg)

A Winnipeg man is facing charges following an alleged robbery and sexual assault at a cannabis store on Tuesday.

The incident began around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday at a shop in the 100 block of Isabel Street in Winnipeg, according to police.

They say the suspect went into the business, waited for a customer to leave and then locked himself and the lone employee inside the store.

Officers allege the suspect proceeded to go behind the counter and sexually assault a 24-year-old female employee. The victim managed to push the suspect away and get out of the cannabis store before calling police.

Police said the suspect then ran away with an unknown quantity of cannabis products.

Around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, officers found the suspect in the 800 block of Main Street, where he was arrested.

A 33-year-old man faces charges of sexual assault, forcible confinement and theft under $5,000. He was also arrested on the strength of a warrant for failure to comply with a probation order.

The suspect was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later time. The charges have not been proven in court.

Union calls for improved safety legislation

This news comes just months after CTV News reported on a survey by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832, which found that only eight per cent of cannabis store workers felt safe at work at all times.

The survey prompted the union to call on the province to legislate new safety measures, including a ban on working alone, controlled entries, removing window coverings and mandated closing times.

With files from CTV’s Harrison Shin

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If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling. 
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
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• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
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• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.