Winnipeg City Councillor Russ Wyatt Faces Additional Sexual Assault and Drug Charges

Winnipeg City Councillor Russ Wyatt is facing three new criminal charges, bringing his total to five criminal offences following investigations by the Winnipeg Police Service Sex Crimes Unit.

Wyatt, 56, who represents the Transcona ward, was arrested on Monday in connection with a historical sexual assault investigation dating back to October 2023. According to police, a male complainant reported that he first connected with Wyatt through a social media website in July 2023. The complainant stated that after meeting in person on multiple occasions, he was provided an illicit drug and sexually assaulted at a residence in the southwest area of the city in October 2023.

As a result of this investigation, Wyatt has been charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm.

These new charges add to an existing set of legal proceedings stemming from a separate investigation earlier this year.In March, Wyatt was charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy, following allegations from an adult male who reported being drugged and sexually assaulted at an east Winnipeg residence in December 2025.

Furthermore, police announced that during an April 2 search warrant execution at an east Winnipeg residence tied to the 2025 case, officers located and seized approximately seven grams of psilocybin valued at an estimated $240.Consequently, Wyatt faces an additional count of possession of a scheduled substance.

Evan Roitenberg, defense counsel for Wyatt, stated that his client maintains his innocence and that the defense looks forward to contesting the charges in court.None of the allegations have been proven.

Following earlier charges brought forward in the spring, Winnipeg city council voted 14-0 to remove Wyatt from seven municipal committees and boards.While Mayor Scott Gillingham and Council Speaker Devi Sharma have reiterated public calls for Wyatt to step away from his duties entirely, municipal legislation currently provides no mechanism to force an unconvicted, elected official from office. Both municipal leaders have since urged the Manitoba provincial government to review existing laws to address such circumstances.

Wyatt was previously arrested and charged with sexual assault in July 2018 following an alleged incident earlier that year. Those charges were stayed by the Crown in June 2019. Wyatt has not filed his nomination papers to run for re-election in the upcoming October municipal election, nor has he made any public announcements regarding his political intentions.