Man faked medical distress before kidnapping woman, child in Portage la Prairie: RCMP

By News Staff

Police in Manitoba say a 62-year-old man kidnapped a 25-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter in Portage la Prairie on Friday, then forced the woman to drive him to Winnipeg.

The mother and her child were found safe in Winnipeg. The suspect, Michael Klimchuk – who was known to RCMP – remains at large.

Police say the victim and suspect were not known to each other.

Portage la Prairie RCMP say the incident began around 4:30 p.m. when they received a report of a man parked in a van outside a hotel. The man was allegedly acting erratically and had possibly consumed drugs.

When police arrived on the scene, they approached the man and spoke to him briefly. Officers say he then reversed his van – later determined to be stolen from Winnipeg – into police vehicles before driving off.

In the ensuing pursuit, police say the suspect drove recklessly, including into oncoming traffic, and the pursuit was stopped in order not to endanger civilians.

Suspect faked medical distress

RCMP believe Klimchuk ditched the van shortly afterward and faked a medical distress at the side of the road to trick a vehicle into stopping.

Portage la Prairie RCMP say the kidnapping victim stopped and the suspect got into her vehicle. They say it happened near Highway 1.

“There were no weapons, but obviously intimidation and coercion,” Cpl. Julie Courchaine said. “I’m not sure about threats. He did demand that she drive him to Winnipeg. And of course she had her young child in the back, so of course the safety of that young child was paramount.”

A 9-1-1 call came in from the victim’s phone around 5:20 p.m., from which a man and a woman’s voice could be heard. The call then went silent.

Police say a second call came in from the woman’s husband from their home east of Portage la Prairie. RCMP determined the victim managed to call her husband, who then reached out to police.

Police arrived at the victim’s home, and the van from the first incident was seen nearby. Officers linked both incidents as a result.

Information led police to determine the suspect was travelling to Winnipeg.

Victim, daughter not physically hurt

At 6:30 p.m., police say the woman called from the Polo Park area and told police the suspect had left the vehicle. The victim and her daughter were not physically hurt.

“I can’t imagine what she’s going through,” said Courchaine. “It must have been a terrifying incident. I wanted to applaud her for being able to deal with the situation, having an outcome like this.”

Police say an Amber Alert was created and was ready to be sent when they received the call from the woman.

RCMP say they are requesting help from the public to locate the suspect. He was last seen wearing a camouflage-patterned jacket and light colour pants.

Klimchuk is wanted on multiple charges, including kidnapping, forcible confinement, abduction of a person under and assault with weapon on a police officer.

Winnipeg police are also involved in locating the suspect.

“We have a lot of resources on this. We’re hoping the public can point us in the direction of where he is,” said Courchaine.

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