Storthoaks woman has close call in alleged Regina bear-spray incident

A Saskatchewan mom and her two daughters were close by for a scary situation over the weekend in Regina.

According to police, a woman was allegedly tied to a chair, threatened and bear-sprayed at a business in the 700 block of Albert Street on Sunday.

Karris Hannah, who lives in the southeast town of Storthoaks, was in the building when the incident happened. She was in the city for a relaxed trip with some friends as well as her two daughters, aged four and six.

According to Hannah, the incident happened at the Best Western Seven Oaks hotel, which is in the same area that police reported.

980 CJME has reached out to the hotel for comment.

Hannah shared her experience from that day with 980 CJME.

“I was on the second floor where it happened,” she recalled. “We didn’t know what was going on; our throats were tickling and we were coughing, and we didn’t know what it was. And then I was leaving, and the staff comes racing around the corner screaming that they couldn’t breathe, and to get out, get out, get out.

“I didn’t know it was bear spray at the time. I thought maybe it was some sort of chemical, I don’t know. I was terrified. I thought we were going to die.”

From there, she had made up her mind that the vacation was over.

“I basically raced out of the parking lot as fast as I could and headed home,” Hannah said.

She didn’t find out more details on the incident until days later, when she stumbled upon this story.

The details, and knowing she was so close to the alleged crime, were shocking.

“Later on, I saw your article about it … I was even more horrified that I was that close with my kids in that situation,” Hannah said.

Police arrested a man and two women shortly after the Sunday morning incident. They made their first appearances in court Monday.