For the second time in 10 days, a carjacker has struck a victim with the stolen vehicle.
In the latest incident, a carjacker bear sprayed a driver, hauled him from his car, robbed him and then struck him with the stolen vehicle as he fled the scene early Sunday, Winnipeg police say.
Officers responding to the scene at the intersection of Sherbrook Street and Ross Avenue at 2:06 a.m. found the victim, 39, was suffering from minor injuries, police said in a news release on Monday.
He was medically cleared at the scene.
Police said the man was waiting for a friend near the intersection when the carjacker suddenly opened the driver’s side door, blasted him with bear spray and then pulled him and his dog from the vehicle.
The victim was then robbed of his personal belongings and struck by the vehicle as the carjacker left the area in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood, police said.
The stolen vehicle was later found on Edmonton Street between Qu-Appelle and Cumberland avenues.
The victim was unable to provide a description of the thief, but a witness said the carjacker was a man, approximately five feet eight inches tall, according to the release.
Police continue to investigate.
The incident was Winnipeg’s second incident in 10 days where the victim was run over as the carjacker fled.
On Oct. 26, a woman, 45, was in a parking lot near the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg when she was struck by her vehicle as the carjacker drove off. She was sent to hospital in unstable condition, but was later upgraded to stable, police said in a previous release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477), or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.