'LIKE A SCENE OUT OF A MOVIE'

One Of Worst Attacks On Police Officers In Winnipeg's History

A suspected drug dealer hiding in a bathroom fired a shotgun blast
through the door -- hitting two police officers -- in the seconds
after police raided a Jubilee Avenue home for drugs, police sources
said Friday.

A third officer was shot in the leg by a fellow officer, the sources
said, in the seconds of chaos that followed one of the bloodiest
attacks on police in Winnipeg's history.

(redacted), 21, who is charged with attempted murder, was
chased down after he fled the house at 723 Jubilee.

The worst injury was to a 12-year veteran officer, who was hit in his
stomach. He was at Health Sciences Centre last night in guarded
condition, and doctors are monitoring him closely to make sure an
infection doesn't set in and worsen his condition.

Another officer, a 17-year veteran, took a blast to his hand and
forearm. He's also had surgery and is in stable condition at HSC. It's
not known if he will lose the use of his hand.

Full recovery

The third officer, wounded in the leg, is a four-year constable in
District 6 in south Winnipeg. He is at HSC in stable condition and is
expected to make a full recovery.

Sources said the third officer's wound is consistent with an injury
that would be caused by a bullet rather than by pellets from a
shotgun. Police ballistics and forensic tests are expected to verify
that.

Officially, Winnipeg police spokespeople released little information.
They did not identify the injured officers or reveal what kind of
drugs they were looking for or whether they seized any drugs or
weapons in the raid. They would not say whether police shot the
suspect, who was listed Friday in stable condition at St. Boniface
General Hospital.

Police Chief Jack Ewatski said the entire incident is under
investigation and no information will be released that would
jeopardize it.

A prominent defence lawyer contacted Friday by the suspect's parents
said there will be "surprises" as the investigation into the raid unfolds.

"It's going to be a hell of a surprise," Greg Brodsky told the Free Press.

The Street Crime Unit, which led the raid, was formed earlier this
year to be a city-wide strike team. It is based on the success of last
year's Operation Clean Sweep in the city's West End.

"All of them are very dedicated and committed officers who are
professionals in the job that they do," Ewatski said at a packed news
conference, which was attended by a number of senior officers and
national media.

In the confusion after the shooting, the suspect ran from the house,
only to be arrested seconds later outside.

Sources said (redacted) is suspected of being an associate of the Zig
Zag Crew, a puppet club of the Hells Angels.

Sources said he suffered a superficial gunshot wound to his arm.

Ewatski said all procedures were followed in carrying out the raid.
That includes officers properly identifying themselves as they are
serving a search warrant.

"From my understanding, the proper protocols were followed for this
type of warrant execution," Ewatski said.

The officers were carrying out a search warrant under the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act.

Ewatski said 12 officers were involved in the raid, which was launched
by officers in Division 11, the downtown branch of the police service.

The officers received information that alleged drugs were being sold
out of the house and approached a magistrate to secure a search warrant.

Officers from the Street Crime Unit, the Canine Unit and Division 16
in south Winnipeg were brought in for support.

A woman who lives across the back lane from the house said neighbours
are saddened officers were injured doing their jobs.

"We're shocked to have such a violent exchange take place here," she
said. "Everyone around here is concerned about the officers. We stand
behind their decisions."

The commotion inside the house was heard through the Fort Rouge
neighbourhood.

One neighbour said she heard a great deal of noise that sounded like a
door being repeatedly slammed shut.

She said she looked out her window and saw two men wrestling on the
front lawn at 723 Jubilee Ave. and a man giving chase to another
individual down Jubilee.

"Before you know it, there were three ambulances and police cars," the
neighbour said. "The street was all lit up. There were police everywhere."

The neighbour said it was too dark to tell who the four people were in
front of 723 Jubilee.

Donn Coppens, who lives down the street, also said he heard a great
deal of noise on Jubilee as police and ambulances rushed to the scene.

"It looked like a scene out of a movie," Coppens said. "It was
unbelievable."

He said Jubilee and all the front yards were lit by emergency flashing
lights and vehicle lights, making it difficult to see much of anything.

The other neighbour said the (redacted) family had lived on Jubilee for
about 20 years and she believed that they had moved to Winnipeg from
Nova Scotia. She said they were quiet, polite neighbours who tended to
keep to themselves and kept a tidy yard.

The (redacted) also kept two large dogs tied up in the backyard, she
said, adding the dogs' constant barking always gave her a sense of
security.

The three (redacted) brothers were tall, attractive young men, she said,
but they weren't very talkative.

She also said the woman who lived in the house had once told her that
years ago their house had been broken into and that several hunting
rifles had been stolen from their home.

Coppens said the police tape was still up Friday morning and that made
it difficult for residents to catch buses for their children to get to
school. Coppens said police officers were searching the back lane
Friday morning, looking inside garbage cans and recycling bins.

The Winnipeg Police Association says it has been more than 35 years
since an officer was killed in the line of duty. Det. Ron Houston was
stabbed while pursuing a suspected rapist June 26, 1970.

Police union president Loren Schinkel said Ontario's Police Act has
been updated to include training standards and standards for how
high-risk entries are dealt with.

"Perhaps it's time to really get the Police Act, which hasn't been
updated here since the 1930s, into the 21st century and really take a
serious look at a number of issues."

By Bruce Owen With files from Aldo Santin, Jason Bell and Canadian
Press