A suspect swam across a lake to avoid officers pursuing him after a carjacking and a home invasion, police said.
RCMP were sent to a home on Meighen Avenue in Portage la Prairie at about 9:20 p.m. Monday after a senior was robbed of his Chevy Silverado.
The 65-year-old man was loading up the vehicle when a man armed with a crowbar approached him and demanded his truck. The suspect hit the victim with the crowbar and drove away. RCMP said in a news release Thursday that the victim did not require medical attention.
While officers were headed to the home, police received calls about the suspect driving erratically and damaging properties.
The damaged truck was found by police a short distance away. Officers were then called about a home invasion on Wilkinson Crescent.
A man broke into the home, threatened the homeowner and tried to steal his vehicle, police said. Officers spotted a suspect fleeing on foot from the backyard. The suspect then jumped into Crescent Lake and swam to the other side.
An officer found a suspect hiding and arrested him.
A 21-year-old Dakota Tipi First Nation has been charged with two counts each of robbery with a weapon, assault with a weapon and mischief, and single counts of dangerous driving, driving while prohibited, breaking and entering, uttering threats, resisting arrest and failing to comply.
He was remanded into custody.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca