SASKATOON — A police attempt to stop a vehicle in the city’s early hours escalated into a pursuit and ended in the arrest of two men and the seizure of weapons, including a sawed-off shotgun.
The incident started just before 1 a.m. on Nov. 17, when an officer tried to pull over a vehicle in the Riversdale neighbourhood near 19th Street West and Avenue R South. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away. The officer didn’t pursue the vehicle.
Another patrol vehicle spotted the car later in the area of Avenue W North and 33rd Street West. There, police successfully used a tire deflation device, but the damaged vehicle continued on, with all tires deflated.
It was later located abandoned at the intersection of 33rd Street West and Matheson Drive. A police service dog tracked the suspect to an address in the 1000 block of Macklem Drive, where two suspects were located and arrested.
A search of the stolen vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded sawed-off shotgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, an airsoft grenade launcher and airsoft grenade, a hunting knife, an expandable baton, and identification belonging to the suspects.
A dog was found unharmed inside the vehicle. The investigation revealed the vehicle had been stolen with the pet still inside. The animal was safely returned to its owner.
As a result, two men, age 27 and 39, have been charged with possession of stolen property over $5000 and numerous weapons-related offences. The 27-year-old man was also charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, evading police, and failing to comply with court-imposed conditions.
