Winnipeg police are asking the public to help them find a man wanted in connection to an armed carjacking on Monday.

It happened just before 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot in the St. James area.

The carjacking took place in the parking lot of a Superstore located at 1385 Sargent Ave. Monday. (Jill Coubrough/CBC) Police said the incident started in an electronics department store on Ellice Avenue. Staff believe the man was stealing goods from the store and security officers followed him out into the parking lot, police said.

When the man, identified as 35-year-old Jason Dean Bercier, crossed the street into a Walmart parking lot, the security officers confronted him. He ran to the nearby Superstore parking lot and the officers gave chase.

Bercier then made stabbing motions toward them with a knife before turning his attention to a truck that was passing by in the lot, police said.

He grabbed hold of the truck, climbed in and beat up the 56-year-old woman who was driving, police said.

She managed to get out and suffered minor injuries in the assault.

Bercier then allegedly drove her truck toward the five security officers, forcing them to scatter away from a duffle bag that he had dropped.

He jumped out, grabbed the bag and then sped off in the stolen truck, police said.

At about 6 p.m., officers found the abandoned stolen truck in the 600 block of Sargent Avenue.

Jonathan Sousa, who works at a nearby home improvement store, said he was surprised something like this happened so close to his workplace.

“I can't believe it,” said Sousa. “I work at Rona here every day. To hear there's a carjacking is unexpected, honestly.”

Investigators have been unable to find Bercier. They have issued a warrant for his arrest and are asking the public to help find him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 204-986-2877 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).