Watchdog investigating after man is injured falling down stairs after being taken into custody by Winnipeg police

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder patch is seen in Winnipeg, Sept. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after Winnipeg police say a man fell down the stairs after he was taken into custody.

Everything unfolded just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday, when police were called to an apartment in the 200 block of Bertrand Street for reports of a man in his 60s armed with an “edged weapon.” Police said the man was suicidal.

“Police arrived at the suite and began communicating with the man through the door and established that he was still armed, refusing to come out and was threatening to kill himself,” police said in a news release.

The situation turned into an armed and barricaded incident, police said, and additional units were called in to help.

After around two hours, the man came out and was taken into custody. However, police said as officers were walking the man down the stairs of the building, he was able to escape and fell down the stairs.

“He sustained a serious injury as a result of the fall and was transported to hospital by ambulance. His condition remains critical.”

Police contacted the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) because of the nature of the man’s injuries.

The IIU said the man is receiving care at the Health Sciences Centre and is being treated for a “possible traumatic brain injury.”

The IIU has now taken over the investigation and said no other details will be shared at this time.

Editor’s note: The story previously said the man was arrested. It has since been changed to say taken into custody.