A 34 year old man is facing multiple assault charges following a domestic dispute last week in Altona that escalated after Altona Police Service responded to the scene during the early morning hours last Thursday.
    
While trying to arrest the man, he pulled a knife on them. After about 30 minutes of negotiation, the officers were able to calmly bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion, and ultimately take the man into custody.

He is currently being held in the Manitoba Remand Center in Winnipeg, and is facing charges of Assaulting Police with a Weapon, Possessing a Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace, Resisting Arrest and Several Breach charges related to prior offences out of Ontario and Saskatchewan.  

Altona Police have also laid charges in a break, enter and theft that took place at the town's Chicken Chef restaurant in late November.
    
The incident took place sometime November 26th or 27th, when persons unknown broke into the restaurant, and stole a large quantity of cash.
    
Police collected evidence at the scene, and sent it to the lab for DNA analysis. As a result of a positive hit, police have charged 34 year old Leigh Alexander Howorko with break, enter and theft. He is also charged with several counts of breaching three separate probation orders. Howorko is currently in custody at the Brandon Correctional Facility on several other charges laid by other police agencies. The Altona Police would like anyone with any further information on Howorko to come forward by calling the office at 204-324-5353 or through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8467. Police pay cash for information which leads to a conviction.

Meantime, pet owners in Altona are being asked to play it safe following a coyote sighting in town Sunday evening. Police responded to the call on Willow Bay where a resident had let his dog out, and observed a coyote walking westbound down the street. Officers tracked the animal, and determined it had crossed over 9th Street and into the adjacent field, heading west toward Buffalo Creek.
    
In speaking with Manitoba Conservation officials, police have learned it's not unusual for coyotes to wander into communities. Conservation officials also offered some tips to keep the animals from getting too comfortable in town. Residents are asked not to leave garbage out overnight, not to leave pet food out on decks or in the yard at all, and not to leave smaller animals such as dogs or cats out unsupervised.
    
Police continue to monitor the situation, and request that should you see a coyote in the community, to please call the office at 204-324-5353 or, in the case of an emergency, to call 9-1-1.