SASKATOON — Police are investigating a string of bear-spray assaults reported across the downtown over the weekend, including incidents at Midtown and along 22nd Street West.
The first call came in around 7:20 p.m. on Feb. 13, when officers were dispatched to the 200 block of 1st Avenue South. A woman reported she had been bear sprayed, but the suspects had already fled.
About an hour later, at 8:40 p.m., police were called to the 100 block of 22nd Street West, where a man told officers he had been bear sprayed and robbed. He was unable to provide a suspect description.
The next evening, on Feb. 14, police received multiple calls within minutes of each other. At about 7:20 p.m., a group of youths armed with bear spray was reported in the 200 block of 1st Avenue South, a man and a woman said they had been assaulted with bear spray.
Five minutes later, at 7:25 p.m., officers were notified that bear spray had been deployed on a bus in the same block. No serious injuries were reported.
Then, at about 7:30 p.m., police received a report of a male walking westbound on 22nd Street West near Auditorium Avenue who allegedly bear sprayed an unknown man. Officers arrested the suspect nearby. The 16-year-old is charged with assault and possession of a weapon.
Police say the investigations remain ongoing.
