A Tinder Date Turns into a Three-Year Odyssey of Pain – Winnipeg Free Press

Plantz called the police a day later, this time when the man threatened to assault her and demanded that she be his lover. During an interview that evening, Plantz left the police station “out of frustration,” Martin said.

“At the time, the police believed he had made the story up,” he said.

On March 11, 2019, Plantz returned to the man's home, pulled the fire alarm, and told firefighters she had come to retrieve the man's belongings from his room. The police who responded to the call did not find any of his belongings in the man's room.

Two days later, Plantz called the police and reported that the man had assaulted her. His claim was later dropped after it was revealed that he had been admitted to a psychiatric ward at the time of the alleged assault.

Plant did not contact the man again until January 1, 2022, when he sent her text messages pretending to be the man she met the night before. The man knew it was Plantz and told her to leave him alone or he would call the police.

Plantz “said the police would laugh at him and he would make it up and tell the police,” Martin said.

“I can no longer answer the door, phone calls or social media without worrying about you or the police harassing me again … I can no longer go out in public without fear that you will be waiting in certain places. form to make my life miserable or even physically attack me.”– Victim impact statement

A few days later, the woman called police and said the man had sexually assaulted her at the Club Regent casino.

Security video showing that neither Plantz nor the man went to the casino later proved the accusation false, but not before the man spent the night in jail and Plantz obtained a protective order against him.

The man remained in custody for two more days after Plantz violated a protective order and falsely claimed to have called him.

Between May 2022 and September 2022, police responded to more complaints from Plantz and visited the man's home three times to warn him to stay away.

Plantz said on one occasion the man threatened him with a gun, and on another occasion he provided police with photographs showing the injuries the man had caused. The same photos were used to support Plantz's claim of a subsequent assault.

The man moved three times, changed his phone number repeatedly and blocked Plantz on social media to escape his attacks.

On October 30, 2022, following another false report by Plantz, police arrested a man during a traffic stop and impounded his vehicle.

The man, who was taken to police headquarters, said he was harassed, not Plantz. Police released the man after reviewing their reporting history, Martin said.

As the man waited outside to get home, Plantz approached him and forced him to the side of the building.

Plantz's repeated complaints were “a waste of police resources,” Martin said.

“It was completely unprovoked. No previous relationship. The impact (on the victim) was strong,” he said.

Wyant asked why police continued to respond to the woman's complaints when there was information in the police department's database that her previous complaints had been denied.

“I think some of the police officers knew it was all made up, that there was nothing wrong with it, that in reality he was a victim, not a criminal, but in other cases the police went so far as to arrest him.” Wyant said.

Martin could not comment, saying the Crown was not involved in allowing the victim to face any charges.

“I think some of the police officers knew that it was all made up, that there was nothing wrong with it, that in fact he was a victim, not a criminal, but in other cases the police went so far as to arrest him.”– Judge Ray Wyant

“It seems like there was a disconnect that really affected the victim, but I can't speak to the police experience or what happened,” he said.

The Winnipeg Police Service declined to comment on the case.

The court heard that Plantz had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, had a long history of drug abuse, particularly methamphetamine, and had lived on the streets for a long time. His childhood was marked by physical abuse and years spent in foster care.

“I would say that the combination of his drug use, homelessness and mental health issues put him at rock bottom,” defense attorney Tom Rees said.

Since her arrest, Plantz has received treatment for her addiction and has been admitted to a residential program for women experiencing trauma and addiction,” Rees said.

“He admits that he had a big impact on (the victim),” Rees said.

Plantz wants to lead a sober lifestyle, and “we can be sure he will continue on that path,” Rees said.

Rees and Martin jointly recommended that Plantz receive a suspended sentence of community service. Wyant said he would not normally consider such an offer, but for Plant's rehabilitation efforts since his arrest.

“I recognize that I am working with a different person than the person who committed these offenses,” Wyant said.

[email protected]

Dean Pritchard
Court reporter

He once said that a journalist is a well-dressed reporter. Dean Pritchard doesn't have a good suit. But he knows a good case law.

Read full bio