A Winnipeg police officer is recovering after she was allegedly assaulted in front of the city’s police headquarters building early Tuesday morning.
The Winnipeg Police Service says the alleged incident began around 3 a.m. as the off-duty officer was leaving the building following her shift. According to police, the officer noticed a man in the building’s vestibule interfering with a delivery person.
Const. Rob Carver says two cadets joined the officer to escort the man outside, at which point the suspect allegedly turned and assaulted her.
“Something odd happened,” Carver says.
“There’s simply no reason for the attack.”
The two cadets, along with a nearby uniformed officer and an off-duty officer, joined in the struggle and were able to subdue the man, police say.
The officer sustained a serious injury and was brought to hospital in stable condition, according to police.
Carver believes the suspect was trying to gain access to the building when the off-duty officer intervened.
“I think this one is unique because the officer was off duty, leaving work,” Carver says.
“It happened to be an officer — we’ve got hundreds of civilians who work here. This could have just as easily been a civilian leaving work.”
Bertram Charles Willcocks, 35, has been charged with assaulting a police officer and remains in custody.