Winnipeg security guard charged with assault, uttering death threats after viral video
Posted March 3, 2026 11:42 am.
Last Updated March 3, 2026 6:46 pm.
The Winnipeg security guard caught on video restraining an alleged shoplifter using what critics have described as excessive force is now facing charges of his own.
The video in question shows a security guard straddling a man who’s lying on the floor. The guard punches the man using a metal object that resembles brass knuckles, repeatedly bangs his head on the ground, and stomps on him.
It happened Saturday at the Dollarama on Portage Avenue.
The Winnipeg Police Service alleges the 23-year-old security guard did indeed use brass knuckles, a prohibited weapon, while punching the man in the face.
The guard, who’s wearing an Impact Security uniform, was arrested Monday evening. He was charged with assault with a weapon; unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon; and uttering death threats.
Winnipeg police say the charges against the security guard stemmed from a secondary investigation after the 46-year-old man being assaulted in the video was initially charged. Police allege that man concealed $95 worth of items and was “attempting to leave without paying,” authorities say.
“The security guard, a 23-year-old man, intervened and attempted to stop the suspect from exiting the store, resulting in a physical altercation. Police were contacted and officers arrived shortly thereafter,” police said.
Winnipeg police allege the 46-year-old man threatened to kill and assaulted the security guard.
The video, shared widely on social media, was condemned by First Nations groups as the man being assaulted has been identified as Indigenous. The video begins with the man already lying on the ground, with the security guard on top of him.
“Stay down or I’ll (expletive) kill you,” the security guard says. “Try me. Touch me you (expletive) idiot.
“You threaten me? Who the (expletive) do you think you are?
“The cops are coming,” he tells him.
The security guard can also be heard shouting at other customers in the store. “(Expletive) you. Shut the (expletive) up. You want to go next?”
CityNews made numerous requests to Impact Security by phone and email for an interview. Those went unanswered. However, in a direct message on Facebook, the company confirmed the security guard has been terminated.
Dozens of Indigenous community members gathered outside the Dollarama on Monday afternoon for a rally.
“The guy was starving, he’s on hard times,” said demonstrator Joshua Pagdato. “And he was assaulted by a man twice as big as him with a banned weapon.”
On Tuesday, a small group of Indigenous community members gathered outside Impact Security’s offices, demanding accountability from the company.
“They should be checking if their guards have weapons on duty, because that’s completely unacceptable that their guards are using weapons against civilians,” said demonstrator Joshua Veillieux. “Whether this person is stealing or not, their job is to observe and report, and they’re getting physical when that’s the police’s job, and they should be calling the cops for that.”
–With files from Eddie Huband
