Saskatoon police briefs: Vehicle check stops, charges laid in vehicle incidents

Saskatoon police have been active on city streets, conducting two recent commercial vehicle check stops and laying charges in two vehicle-related incidents.

On April 16 and 22, officers with the Saskatoon Police Service’s traffic unit and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan inspected commercial vehicles in the city’s north end, alongside vehicle equipment regulation technicians.

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Police stopped 113 vehicles to inspect and issued 63 tickets alongside 47 warnings.

According to police, 73 vehicle and trailer violations were identified and 25 vehicles and trailers were seized, towed or taken out of service.

One driver was determined by police to be under the influence of drugs and one vehicle was impounded because of driving faster than the 50 kilometres per hour speed limit.

“The Saskatoon Police Service thanks members of the public for their accommodation during these traffic safety initiatives,” police said in a release.

Man charged for evading police in stolen vehicle

A man is facing various charges after “an incident where a stolen vehicle evaded police late Saturday night,” according to a release from Saskatoon police.

Around 11:30 p.m. on April 25, officers conducting routine patrols in the area of 22nd Street West and Avenue I North found a vehicle that had been reported stolen.

“Officers were quickly able to confirm the vehicle had been stolen and initiated their vehicle’s emergency lights as the suspect vehicle travelled northbound on Circle Drive; it did not stop for police,” said the release.

Police said officers continued to follow the vehicle. A tire deflation device  at 45th Street West was “successfully deployed,” but the vehicle continued driving.

Officers then used a vehicle to stop the suspect vehicle on Highway 16. Three people were inside, according to observations by Saskatoon and Corman Park police officers.

“The driver of the vehicle did not comply with police commands and a conducted energy weapon (CEW) was discharged by police.”

All three people were then arrested, police said, and officers noticed “what were believed to be self-inflicted injuries” on the vehicle driver. Life-saving measures were provided by officers until EMS arrived and brought the man to hospital for treatment.

The man, a 36-year-old, has been charged with evading police, dangerous driving, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and three counts of breaching court-imposed conditions.

Arrest made in break in, vehicle theft

Saskatoon police arrested a man after a break-in that resulted in a vehicle being stolen on Saturday.

Around 12:15 a.m. on April 26, police officers responded to a business in the 300 block of Confederation Drive after receiving a report of a break and enter. The caller told police a window had been broke and the overhead door to a shop was opened.

Officers arrived and investigated the scene. Surveillance video showed a suspect break the business’s window and enter the shop, then steal a vehicle and flee the scene, according to a police news release.

The vehicle was found a few hours later in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue North. Police said the suspect, 34, was arrested.

He is charged with break and enter and operating a vehicle while being prohibited from doing so, according to police.