Manitoba

Stony Mountain inmate escapes during supervised absence in Winnipeg

Terry Dutko, 24, escaped during an "escorted temporary absence" in Winnipeg on Wednesday night.

Warrant issued for Terry Dutko, 24, who is serving 12-year sentence for crimes including robbery, assault

A mugshot of a man with short brown hair, a scar on his forehead and tattoos on his neck is seen wearing a blue shirt.
Terry Dutko, 24, escaped during an 'escorted temporary absence' in Winnipeg on Wednesday night. (Submitted by Correctional Service of Canada)

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man serving a 12-year prison sentence after he escaped during an "escorted temporary absence" in Winnipeg on Wednesday night.

Terry Dutko, 24, got away shortly before 10 p.m. during the visit to the city, said a news release from Correctional Service of Canada early Thursday morning. Winnipeg police have been notified.

Dutko is serving time in a minimum-security unit in Stony Mountain Institution, just north of Winnipeg.

He was charged with 54 offences in June 2019, when he was 20 years old, after he and a co-accused were arrested following a carjacking that left one person injured and involved the theft of a Winnipeg police cruiser.

He was convicted of robbery, breaking and entering, four counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of fraud under $5,000, two counts of vehicle theft, two counts of fleeing from a police officer, aggravated assault and driving while prohibited, the Corrections Canada release said.

Three damaged vehicles are towed away from a police scene.
Three damaged vehicles associated with the chase and carjacking are towed away from the Headingley Flying J gas bar on June 28, 2019. (Travis Golby/CBC)

The 2019 incident started in Winnipeg when Dutko and his co-accused stole an SUV, police said at the time. The vehicle blew a tire after running over police spikes and the pair ditched it at a gas station in Headingley, according to police.

As officers converged on the area, the men carjacked a vehicle from Quebec. They pulled three adults from the vehicle, one of whom was hospitalized with serious injuries after he as dragged six metres, police said at the time.

Winnipeg police then stopped that vehicle but the men took off on foot and officers followed. Dutko's co-accused was arrested, but Dutko managed to circle back and stole the police cruiser, which still had the keys in the ignition.

Dutko led numerous police vehicles on a high-speed chase west that ended near Highway 26 and Highway 1 east of Portage la Prairie, when Dutko punctured a tire while driving over another spike belt laid by police. He tried to carjack another vehicle but was arrested.

He is described as about five foot 11 and weighing 240 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He has tattoos on his right hand and right arm.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Winnipeg police at 204-986-6222 or Crime Stoppers online or at 204-786-8477.

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Corrections

  • We initially reported that Terry Dutko's sentence was 11 years. In fact, Corrections Canada said his sentence was 11 years, 11 months and 28 days, which we have rounded up to 12 years.
    Jan 11, 2024 12:10 PM CT