Brother of slain restaurateur calls 911 response 'disgusting' – Winnipeg Free Press

The brother of a St. James restaurant owner who died after a violent incident with a man accused of first-degree murder is furiously calling Winnipeg's 911 to investigate an alleged non-dispatch.

Kyriakos Vogiatzakis, 51, died after what Winnipeg police described as a “fight” outside his Portage Avenue, Cork & Flame restaurant around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 24.

According to police, the 51-year-old man was pushed to the ground and assaulted until he lost consciousness. The incident was caught on at least one surveillance camera.

Curtis Ross Dalebozik, 38, is charged with manslaughter and menacing.

The victim's brother, Mike Vogiatzakis, expressed concern Tuesday about the response time of Winnipeg Fire Paramedics.

He said the defibrillator malfunctioned when his brother began receiving professional help at the scene.

“A lot of things went wrong for my brother that night,” he said, calling for an inspection of the shipment and blasting city politicians for not reaching out to the grieving family and restaurant workers.

Mike Vogiatzakis said staff called 911 at 5:30 p.m., but 911 didn't arrive until 25 minutes later, when the defibrillator was malfunctioning and the wires were tangled.

A police cruiser arrived at 5:46 p.m., a second cruiser at 5:48 p.m., then a fire paramedic at 5:49 p.m., the victim's brother said, but neither had a defibrillator.

Seven minutes later, another ambulance arrived with a defibrillator, the victim's brother said.

He said he won't know until he sees the autopsy results if his brother, who suffered head injuries, could have survived with a defibrillator.

He also questioned why his brother was sent to Health Sciences Center instead of nearby Grace Hospital, calling the 911 response “disgusting.”

“Let's try to save the next person's life,” he said.

But Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service spokeswoman Erin Madden said Tuesday that all of the service's equipment was working properly. He said he hoped the family would contact the department directly with their concerns.

“We have procedures in place to address concerns, including a WFPS medical director's briefing and incident review,” Madden said.

He said the first call to WFPS 911 last week came in at 5:37 p.m. from a Winnipeg police dispatcher, and units were dispatched two minutes later.

The first responding crew in a fire engine with a paramedic on board remained nearby until police confirmed it was safe to go to the scene. The crew arrived at 5:49 p.m. and began treating the victim.

The first ambulance arrived at 5:55 p.m., Madden said, and a second ambulance was there for another medical incident. Mike Vogiatzakis said the restaurant worker suffered a seizure while giving first aid to Kyriakos Vogiatzakis.

WFPS has not confirmed that the defibrillator malfunctioned. Citing privacy legislation, Madden said WFPS cannot disclose details of the treatment provided to a patient.

However, he said, the fire engine and two ambulances had cardiac monitors capable of defibrillation.

Dalebozik, who has ties to Morden and Carman, was staying at the Boulevard Motel near the Cork & Flame, the source said.

Mike Vogiatzakis said his brother, employees and customers said the suspect was in the vicinity or being harassed.

He said Kyriakos had given the suspect free meals several times to help him.

Dalebozik was recently found fit to stand trial on a misdemeanor charge after psychiatric experts diagnosed him with an undiagnosed psychosis.

He was sentenced to probation in November, which he was charged with violating shortly after his sentencing. He has a record of criminal mischief, drug possession, possession of a weapon, menacing and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.

Citing that history, Mike Vogiatzakis on Tuesday reiterated his frustration and anger at the justice system and its failures.

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Eric Pindera
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Eric Pindera reports to the City Office with a focus on crime and justice.

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