Man and woman arrested after flooding at Winnipeg police headquarters

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A man and a woman are facing mischief charges connected to flooding at the Winnipeg police headquarters that left extensive damage still being cleaned up.

Water started dripping in the tower portion of the downtown office complex at 266 Graham Ave. Saturday evening. 

In a Sunday news release, Winnipeg police said the flooding happened after two people opened several emergency water supply valves in the upper stairwells of the tower building.

Within minutes, significant water pressure built up in the pipes and forced water into the stairwells of the tower, flooding some areas of the headquarters, police said.

“Water was pouring downstairs, water was pouring through ceilings. It happened very quickly,” Cst. Dani McKinnon told reporters at a news conference on Sunday.

“It’s just like floodgates basically opened up.”

CBC News first received word of flooding at the police headquarters at 7:30 p.m. Water was seen pouring from the ceiling of the main foyer and pooling around shards of broken light fixtures near the elevators at around 8:30 p.m.

WATCH | Flooding at tower building of police HQ complex :

2 arrested after flooding at Winnipeg police headquarters, tower

Two people have been arrested in connection with a flooding incident at the Winnipeg police headquarters and an adjacent tower Saturday night, city police said Sunday. Police say two people opened emergency water supply valves in the upper stairwells of the tower building on Graham Avenue.

Firefighters arrived at the building and secured the compromised valves, according to the release.

Two suspects were identified in connection with the flooding, police said. Officers searched the areas surrounding the building and found them just after 11 p.m. in the 200 block of Graham Avenue. 

A 51-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman have been charged with six counts of mischief over $5,000. Both were released on an undertaking.

‘Extensive’ property damage 

No one was injured, but the water caused “extensive flooding damage” impacting some working spaces in the building, police said.

Much of the office tower, acquired by the city in 2009, is vacant. On Sunday police couldn’t say how many floors were affected or if the basement were impacted by the flooding.

McKinnon hasn’t heard “that any evidence is in trouble” from the flooding.  Asked by reporters if cruisers, servers or power systems in the building were compromised, she said police are still working to assess what exactly was impacted. 

WATCH | Winnipeg police speak about arrests and damage:

Winnipeg police answer questions about flooding at downtown building

Cst. Dani McKinnon with the Winnipeg Police Service says two people were charged with six counts of mischief after police believe they opened several water supply valves in the upper stairwells of the tower building Saturday night, leading to extensive flooding of two buildings.

“This stuff is going to take a while,” she said. “We are going to take our time to find … every little nook and cranny that was affected.”

Police also couldn’t answer if anyone in custody had to be moved due to the flooding. 

Plastic bags covered equipment at the Winnipeg police headquarters while crews mop up from flooding in the building on Feb. 14. (Gavin Axelrod/CBC)

In the meantime, uniform operation will not be affected by the disruptions from the flooding, but some working units had to be moved, and the station duty office at 245 Smith St. will remain closed for in-person reporting.

Until further notice, people can continue to make online reports. In an emergency call 911. For non-emergency situations call 204-986-6222, police said.

The flooding comes in the same week as public hearings began in a provincial inquiry into the police headquarters construction project.

At the building on Sunday, workers were pulling up carpets, soaking up residual water and drying the space with industrial fans. 

“The weather is on our side,” McKinnon said, as the temperature on Sunday rose to 2 C.

“I can only imagine how slippery it would be out there and how difficult it would be [otherwise].” 

“This is property damage and we will get through it.”