SASKATOON — A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault on a taxi driver that occurred last month.
Saskatoon Police Service say the suspect was arrested at the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre earlier this month. He is now charged with aggravated assault and multiple firearms offences.
The charges stem from an incident on May 18. Police were called at approximately 7:50 p.m. to a parking lot in the 200 block of 33rd Street West. According to police, the taxi driver, a 51-year-old man, had been assaulted after a fare reportedly refused to pay and was asked to get out of the vehicle. The victim was struck by BB gun pellets. He was taken to hospital with injuries
The arrest comes as Saskatoon police report a violent weekend involving several weapons offences.
Firearm at bar
The first incident was on May 16. At about 9 p.m. officers responded to the 700 block of Idylwyld Drive North after it was reported that a male was seen with a firearm tucked in his waistband.
Members of the Canine Unit tracked the suspect to a nearby hotel. They located the man and a woman inside along with a sawed-off shotgun.
The 33-year-old is facing six firearm related charges and breach of probation. The 26-year-old woman was found to be in breach of court conditions.
Apartment attack
The next morning, shortly after 9 a.m. on May 17, police were dispatched to an apartment in the 800 block of Confederation Drive after it was reported that a bear spray and a BB gun were discharged into an apartment and struck a male resulting in non-life-threatening injuries.
Parking lot brawl
Later that same day, at approximately 5 p.m. on May 17, it was reported that several people were fighting in a parking lot in the 3100 block of Laurier Drive. Upon police arrival, two males were located in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. A third female fled on foot but was located and arrested a short time later in possession of spent ammunition.
No one was injured in this incident, and all parties are known to each other.
An 18-year-old male is facing several firearms-related charges. The second male was found to be breaching court-imposed conditions and the female was released without charges.
Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to contact Saskatoon Police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
