Community Safety Alert: Hidden Room Arrest in Dauphin Home
In the early morning hours of May 3, 2026, officers with the RCMP Manitoba West District General Investigation Section, supported by Dauphin RCMP and Dauphin Police Dog Services, executed an arrest warrant at a residence on Hawthorne Avenue in Dauphin, Manitoba. The visit was linked to a man already wanted on several theft-related offences.
During the search of the home, officers uncovered a concealed room built behind a false wall, along with a second hidden space accessed by a trap door. A 48-year-old Dauphin man, previously wanted on multiple property and compliance offences, was ultimately located in the second hidden room and arrested. Various weapons were found in the concealed area, and two men from Dauphin now face criminal charges related to this incident.
Official Incident Details
At approximately 12:20 a.m. on May 3, 2026, RCMP officers attended a residence on Hawthorne Avenue, Dauphin to act on a warrant of arrest for a male wanted on theft-related charges. When police entered the home, an adult man stated he was alone inside the residence. Officers then carried out a detailed search of the property.
During that search, police discovered a hidden room located behind a false wall. Within this concealed space, officers found multiple weapons and identified a trap door leading to a second, even more secret room. After roughly 20 minutes, the suspect hiding in the second room surrendered to officers and was arrested without further incident.
The arrested suspect has been identified as Jayson Mcdougall, 48, of Dauphin. In connection with this operation, he is now charged with:
- Resisting arrest
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
RCMP also state that Mcdougall was already facing the following charges prior to this arrest:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Theft over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Flight from peace officer
- Failure to comply with an undertaking (two counts)
Following his arrest at the Hawthorne Avenue residence, Mcdougall was remanded into custody.
The other man inside the residence, a 35-year-old male from Dauphin, was also arrested. RCMP report that he is facing a charge of obstructing police in relation to this incident. He was released with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
This event occurs against the backdrop of ongoing property and weapons-related policing activity in the Dauphin area. Residents who wish to better understand local crime patterns and long-term trends can review Dauphin crime statistics and safety data compiled by CrimeCanada.ca.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident highlights several important safety themes for communities across Manitoba. The discovery of multiple hidden rooms, along with weapons inside a residence, underscores how some offenders may attempt to avoid arrest and conceal potentially dangerous items within otherwise ordinary neighbourhood homes. While there is no indication in the official release that the public was in immediate danger during this operation, any situation involving concealed weapons in a residential setting carries inherent risk for both officers and nearby residents.
Community members can support safer neighbourhoods by promptly reporting suspicious activity—such as unusual structural modifications, frequent late-night visits, or evidence of stolen property—to local police or RCMP detachment non-emergency lines. In emergencies, always call 911. Staying informed about local crime trends, including property crime and weapons offences, and understanding how they affect communities like Dauphin and the surrounding area, helps residents make informed decisions about home security, neighbourhood watch participation, and day-to-day personal safety.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the manitoba community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.