Woman arrested after Osborne Village bear spray spree

A 20-year-old woman is under arrest after Winnipeg police say she went on a bear spray spree in the Osborne Village area on Wednesday morning.

Six people were randomly assaulted by a woman using bear spray in attacks that began around 7:30 a.m., police said in a Thursday news release.

The woman first sprayed a driver through the window of their vehicle when it was stopped at the intersection of Stradbrook Avenue and Donald Street, according to police. A short time later, a woman riding her bicycle in the area of Donald Street and Bell Avenue was approached by the woman and also assaulted with bear spray.

Soon after, another woman who was waiting for a bus at the corner of River Avenue and Donald Street was approached by the woman and bear sprayed, police say.

Later, a fourth person walking to a bus stop at River Avenue and Donald Street encountered the woman sitting on the ground and was also bear sprayed, the police news release said.

Soon after that, two women walking in the area of River Avenue and Mayfair Place saw a woman chasing someone. The woman chasing the other person stopped, and assaulted the two other women with bear spray.

The person being chased has not been identified, and it's not known if they were also sprayed, police said.

West District general patrol officers were contacted and the 20-year-old woman was arrested in the 200 block of River Avenue, near Donald Street, police said.

She has been charged with six counts of assault with a weapon, one count of possession of a weapon and mischief under $5,000. 

The 20-year-old was detained in custody.

Police say their investigation is ongoing, and they believe more people who were affected may not yet have been identified. They encouraged anyone who wants to speak to an investigator to call Winnipeg police at 204-986-2842.