Two suspects face a number of charges in connection with a severe case of child abuse, said police.
One of the suspects charged is the young boy's biological mother, while the second suspect charged is her boyfriend.
On Sept. 8, a six-year-old boy went to a neighbour's house with a broken arm in Winnipeg's south end. Emergency crews were called and the boy was subsequently taken into the care of Child and Family Services.
An investigation revealed the boy had previous injuries, including fractures and bruising, said police. Officers said the boy had "horrific physical injuries" from repeated assaults that had not been treated or reported. Among the injuries he had previously suffered included a fractured skull and ribs.
It's believed the assaults took place between December 2009 and September of this year.
In August, the boy had gone to three different neighbouring homes on separate occasions and said he was lost or was looking for a relative, but was later returned home after officials were contacted.
One woman who saw the boy at her door said he had a black eye and bruises on his arm. She called 911 and Child and Family Services and police responded.
Officials said a plausible explanation was given for the injuries and the child was returned home.
On Sept. 8, police and CFS were called again after the boy showed up at a neighbour's home and began talking about being abused. This time, the boy was removed from his mother's care after the neighbours called 911.
Police credited residents for calling authorities in the four instances where the boy went to neighbours.
"(If) all four of those people hadn't intervened, this child would still be living in the home. I'm convinced he would have never come forward to the police and he would still be at home, being abused, said Insp. Bill Fogg, from the Winnipeg police's child abuse unit.
Police said the boy had been repeatedly hit with a broom and mop handle.
The child's 23-year-old mother has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, uttering threats and failing to provide the necessities of life.
The woman's 32-year-old boyfriend also faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, uttering threats, breach of probation and failing to provide the necessities of life.
An 18-month-old girl was also removed from the home. Police said she did not show obvious signs of abuse.
The province has now called for an outside review of how the case was handled by CFS and all other agencies involved.
Gord Mackintosh, the province's minister of family services, said that until this case, these types of reviews have only been done in instances where a child has died.
"We have serious questions that have to be answered in terms of is there anything that could have been done to have prevented this," said Mackintosh.
Ontario children's aid officials had also been involved in the case. Mackintosh said the boy had previously been in his grandmother's care, but was returned to the care of his mother.
The province said a review will examine the role of both Manitoba and Ontario agencies.
- with a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout
