Two female suspects have recently been arrested and charged after a lengthy RCMP effort to stop their vehicle near Provincial Road 240, south of Portage la Prairie, MB.
On December 24, 2024, at 2:15pm, a Portage la Prairie RCMP officer, who was on patrol, initiated a traffic stop with a vehicle on 8th Street NW and 6th Avenue NW. The officer activated his emergency lights but the vehicle refused to stop. Due to public safety concerns, a pursuit was not initiated.
The vehicle was later located traveling on Road 70 North, heading towards Provincial Road 240. Officers were able to position a police vehicle in an attempt to deploy a spike belt. Members noted that a police vehicle was traveling behind the suspect vehicle as well.
Police say that the suspect vehicle stopped before hitting the spike belt and reversed into the police vehicle traveling behind it. The suspect then drove over the spike belt and turned south onto Provincial Road 240 where it drove head-on into another arriving police vehicle.
As a result of the collision, both vehicles caught on fire after impact. Officers then exited their vehicles and were able to safely remove the two female occupants who were subsequently placed under arrest.
Police noted that the two suspects and one officer were taken to local hospital where they were treated and released back to police.
RCMP report that a 30-year old female, from Portage la Prairie, faces charges of flight from police and resisting/obstructing a police officer. She was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a future date. Also, 32-year-old Michelle Whitford, of Portage la Prairie, was remanded into custody on charges including assaulting a police officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a conveyance, theft of a motor vehicle, flight from police and resisting arrest.
