Toonie lot mix-up leads to arrest
Man detained after authorized break-in
Tessa Vanderhart Staff
On April 5, Security Services arrested Corey Werbicki after he removed locked-in keys from his friend’s car.
Werbicki is currently waiting to learn if charges will be pressed against him for resisting arrest and possession of illegal break-in tools after being apprehended by officers last Wednesday.
The car’s owner is Michael Gaba, a second-year University of Manitoba student, who said that he called Werbicki on Wednesday morning upon locking his keys in his car, parked in the SD or “toonie” lot.
Werbicki said that he arrived at the “toonie lot” just off of Chancellor Matheson Rd. shortly after 12:30 p.m.. He explained that he used a kit, purchased from CAA during previous employment as a tow-truck driver, to open Gaba’s car and remove the keys, at which time he re-locked the doors.
Then, Werbicki said, he waited outside his car for Gaba to arrive, although Security Services cars arrived first. He said that they immediately demanded he “get the fuck on the ground,” which Werbicki said he did not do.
“That kind of started an argument,” Werbicki noted. He said that he was never asked what he was doing, a claim that Linda Lavallee, assistant director of Security Services, would not address directly.
“They tried grabbing my arm. . . . They threw me against [Gaba]’s car. They said I was resisting arrest,” he said.
Werbicki said that he was then grabbed and thrown into a Security Services van, where officer Kurt Christoph demanded he hand over his wallet and Gaba’s car keys. “I was on the ground, and he had his knee in my neck,” said Werbicki. He was told to surrender the items, or be put in a “submission hold,” he said.
Brought back to the Security Services office, Werbicki said he was then handcuffed to a table, where he estimates he remained from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.. A half hour after arriving at the office, he said he was read his rights, and upon asking, was granted a phone call.
Then, Werbicki said, he waited. “They never actually told me what they were waiting for,” he said.
He said that he was released around 8 p.m. with Gaba’s car keys. Gaba later said that the delay was the result of Security Services waiting for the Winnipeg Police to show up, although at the time of Werbicki’s release, they had yet to arrive.
Lavallee said that the case is now out of Security Services’ hands — it has been forwarded to the Winnipeg Police Service for consideration of charges of possession of break-in tools and resisting arrest.
“Our role is complete at this time; Winnipeg Police Services will review the incident and make decisions,” Lavallee said. She added that video footage of the incident has been provided and will be reviewed by the city police.
According to Lavallee, the last few weeks have seen a “significant” increase in the number of vehicle thefts and break-ins. She reported that thefts have been occurring largely in the SD or “toonie” lot, where Gaba’s car was parked, but also in the L lot, located behind the Arts Complex.
Lavallee said that she is supportive of the behaviour of the Security Services officers, though she declined to name the officers involved.
“They were perfectly within the guidelines of their duties, and I am perfectly supportive of their actions,” Lavallee said.
No charges have been laid by either party with the Winnipeg Police Service, according to spokesperson Const. Jacqueline Chaput.
Werbicki said that he is now waiting to see if charges are pressed against him before considering pressing any charges himself. He added that he is currenty on worker’s compensation for a back injury, which was aggravated by the officers.
“I don’t want to. I know this is a really bad thing that happened, but sometimes things get caught up in court,” he said.
He added that in the interview room, Security Services warned him that, ‘lawsuits cost lots of money.’”
Werbicki also said that Jim Raftis, director of Security Services, asked for a written apology for Werbicki’s behaviour.
“They could say I had a bad attitude. I’ll admit that I did say a few words to them that shouldn’t have been said,” noted Werbicki.
“They said it could all have been prevented if I had explained what I was doing there. But I didn’t get a chance to explain myself.”
