Saskatoon police dogs help nab 6 suspects in 24 hours

Six people are in custody and facing charges following three separate incidents that led police to call out the dogs.

First, police were called out to a suspected break-and-enter on the 1200 block of McNaughton Avenue around 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers spotted a truck that had reportedly been seen leaving the home, and tried to make a traffic stop on Haida Avenue.

The suspect vehicle took off, and was found abandoned at 500 Appleby Place. The canine unit was able to track four suspects, who were found with stolen property. Items found included a crossbow, a pellet gun and several knives.

Police had to call the bomb squad when their search turned up what looked like some sort of explosive. The object was later found to be a paint ball or smoke grenade.  

Two men, 28 and 22, and two women, 35 and 21, are facing charges.

Next, at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, a canine officer on patrol stopped a Honda Civic seen driving erratically near the 100 block of Avenue N North.

As the officer was checking the vehicle, a woman got out on the passenger side and the driver sped off. Police found the car abandoned in an alley near Avenue Q and 22nd Street.

The officer was able to track the suspect to a yard on the 1600 block of 22nd Street with the help of his service dog. The 48-year-old suspect was found to be wanted on outstanding warrants. The Civic had been reported stolen from Vancouver.  He’s been charged with evading police and possession of stolen property.

Finally, at around 1 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a suspicious man going into vehicles around 1st Street and Morgan Avenue.

The suspect was found after a police dog tracked him to the backyard of a home on the 1600 block of Morgan Avenue. The dog was then able to find stolen items the suspect allegedly dropped along his way. The 28-year-old is charged with prowling at night, theft and breaching of undertaking.