A Regina police officer fired a shot at a stolen vehicle Thursday night.
The Regina Police Service located the vehicle parked on the 1300 block of Robinson Street at 10:08 p.m. Officers approached the vehicle, announcing they were walking up, when the vehicle took off in reverse and slammed into the unmarked police vehicle.
The stolen vehicle then drove forward towards the officer on foot. That’s when the officer fired a shot at the vehicle, which struck the rear door on the driver’s side.
No one was hurt – by the shot or by the vehicle.
“The officer was never struck by the suspect car, but was trying to get away from that car as it was moving back and forth in the alley,” said Superintendent Corey Zaharuk, speaking to the media Friday afternoon.
The vehicle fled the scene. RPS officers pursued the vehicle south on Albert Street to the Highway 1 exit. RCMP members assisted RPS officers near Moose Jaw. The suspect vehicle lost control and came to a stop in a ditch on a gravel road near the town of Tuxford. A man and woman inside the vehicle tried to run from the scene on foot, but they were both caught and arrested.
The man was taken down by a canine officer and had minor injuries. He was treated and released from hospital.
Another police officer who was assisting the canine officer also sustained minor injuries.
Clifford Daniels, 21, of Saskatoon faces charges of possession of stolen property for the car and a license plate, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and breach of a conditional sentence order.
Ashley McKay, 28, is also charged with possession of stolen property along with three breaches of a court order.
The discharge of the officer’s firearm – along with the pursuit – will now be investigated by two review boards within the Regina Police Service. The use of the firearm will also be reported to the Saskatchewan Police Commission.
As always, police ask anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.