Winnipeg Police Service constable Jonathan Kiazyk testified Wednesday that he did not steal cannabis from a drug-scene he was assigned to guard [2].
The case examines whether a sworn officer misused his authority to tamper with evidence, a charge that challenges the integrity of the local police force.
The trial began on Monday, May 4, 2026 [1]. The incident occurred in a suite within a downtown apartment building that authorities had identified as a drug-scene [3]. Prosecutors allege that Kiazyk misused his power to take cannabis from the site for his own personal use [2].
During his testimony on May 6, 2026 [2], Kiazyk denied the accusations. "I'm not a thief," Kiazyk said [1]. He told the court that his entries into the secured apartment were not for the purpose of theft. "I was only going into the suite to use the washroom a few times that night," Kiazyk said [3].
Crown prosecutors presented a different version of events. They argued that the officer took evidence that he was specifically tasked to protect. "He brazenly misused his power by taking evidence that was supposed to be protected," a crown prosecutor said [2].
The proceedings also touched upon Kiazyk's professional associations. While some reports indicate that charges in the same case were stayed [1], other accounts suggest the incident involved a former partner who is now imprisoned [3].
Kiazyk remains accused of tampering with the scene, a charge that could result in significant disciplinary or legal consequences if the court finds he breached his duty to preserve evidence.
“"I'm not a thief."”
This trial centers on the 'chain of custody' and the ethical obligations of police officers. If a constable is found to have stolen evidence from a guarded scene, it could jeopardize the legal standing of the original drug investigation and undermine public trust in the Winnipeg Police Service's ability to secure crime scenes.
