No, Santa Claus Wasn’t Arrested at Winnipeg Mall, Police Say – Winnipeg

Santa Claus has not been arrested at a Winnipeg mall, according to local authorities.

Winnipeg police took to Twitter to let the public know that officers did not take Santa into custody after videos and photos showing Santa in the mall being arrested at the Cadillac Fairview Polo Park circulated on social media.

“Police were not present at Polo Park and no Mall Santa was arrested. Nothing inconvenient happened,” police said in a reply to a video of the incident posted on the site.

This short video appears to show a man dressed as Santa Claus being handcuffed by two uniformed men at the Portage Avenue shopping center.

Peter Havens, general manager of Cadillac-Fairview Polo Park, told Global News that Mall Santa’s arrest was “done as a joke.”

trendy now

trendy now

“It was a joke by the center staff. Security staff actually arrested him,” Havens explained.

“The group was trying to take a silly picture, but unfortunately it was picked up by other bystanders.”

Havens apologized on behalf of the shopping center for the confusion caused by the apparent prank.

“I want to be clear, Santa wasn’t taken from the land and there was no misbehavior by the delightful old elf,” he said.

“The depiction of the arrest was made as a joke by Center staff and was an error of judgment.”

— with file by Marissa Tarton

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.