On June 21, 2026, Winnipeg police executed search warrants at a home on Burrows Avenue following allegations of drug trafficking. The raid resulted in the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of multiple firearms, ammunition, and other illegal substances.
Edward Arthur Coutu, aged 41, was among those arrested and faces numerous charges including possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and several firearm-related offenses. He previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with Jordan Dennis Houle's death in September 2012 and received a sentence of seven years, which included an additional year beyond his time served.
Joshua Zedidiah Parisian, aged 38, was also charged alongside Coutu for similar crimes involving firearms and drug trafficking. In May 2014, he was found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing at Opaskwayak Cree Nation and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after an appeal reduced his original sentence.
Tamara Faye Matwayashing, aged 40, faced charges including obstruction of justice and breaching bail orders. The other three individuals arrested were released on undertakings but still face gun and drug-related charges.
Police seized a trove of weapons during the raid, including three sawed-off rifles and one sawed-off shotgun, along with ammunition, brass knuckles, scales, packaging materials for drugs, an e-bike, and approximately $735 in cash. The investigation was initiated earlier this month when allegations emerged that two individuals were involved in drug trafficking from a home located on Burrows Avenue.
The raid underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating drug-related crimes within Winnipeg's William Whyte neighborhood. Further details regarding the exact nature of the seized drugs and their quantities are not yet available, pending further forensic analysis.