Saskatoon car chase with shots fired ends with arrest
35-year-old suspect in court today facing 28 charges
A 35-year-old man who led police on a wild car chase Saturday afternoon is due in court this morning facing 28 charges.
It unfolded over 30 minutes, covered both sides of the river and featured a stolen car, methamphetamine and a shots fired by police during the chase.
Audience member Joe Weiers sent the following raw video to CBC Saskatchewan:
"Unfortunately [he is] well known to our police service," said police Chief Clive Weighill of the suspect. "Over 20 contacts with police since May 2014."
The dramatic chase began when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle in a routine traffic stop near 8th Street and Goodwin Avenue. The male driver and lone occupant of the car refused to stop and began driving erratically, according to police.
The officer immediately stopped the pursuit and notified other officers in the area. The car was then spotted by police on the city's east side, but police said they also did not pursue it and informed other officers of the vehicle’s route. They believe the vehicle was not registered.
Weighill said the car was then seen speeding north on Idylwyld Drive by a canine unit.
There were several people in the store who said as the car drove past that they heard several gunshots and saw the man holding his arm out the window, pointing a gun into the air and around at different things, at people.- Thomas Dehod, witness
"We thought the vehicle was going to leave the city," Weighill said. "The vehicle did turn around and came toward another canine vehicle. That was the first time we knew he had a firearm. He allegedly pointed his handgun at our canine officer at which point our canine vehicle did take pursuit of the vehicle."
Weighill explained that police tried to use stop sticks to debilitate the vehicle, which did not work initially. He said they believe the suspect fired shots while driving near Idylwyld Drive and 25th Street.
Police noted that the man was seen driving in the opposite lanes on 33rd Street.
"I know there were several shots, I would say around six or so in that area but I don't know how many were fired by each person yet," Weighhill said as he explained that the investigation is in its preliminary stages.
It's not yet clear whether the replica firearm used by the suspect is capable of firing any sort of projectile, or how many shots were fired by police.
When asked, police spokesperson Alyson Edwards said "we have reports from officers that indicate the weapon may have been fired."
The suspect vehicle was stopped after two police vehicles rammed into it at the intersection of 22nd Street and 2nd Avenue.
Suspect wasn't 'hunting' police
"Obviously it was an attack on a police officer, because he was firing shots at that police officer. But I don't believe that probably, had we not tried to pull the vehicle over, that there would have been an incident or confrontation with him," Weighill explained.
"I don't believe he was hunting a police officer or anything like that."
Weighill said the man will likely appear in court on Monday in Saskatoon, facing several gun-related charges.
"It is a very rare occurrence in Saskatoon. Very, very rare. I do have to say the climate in Saskatoon has changed with a lot of the drugs — methamphetamine seems to be a big driver here in Saskatoon that is causing the police service here all kinds of issues," Weighill said.
No one was injured in the incident.
Traffic restrictions are in place at four locations, 22nd Street and 2nd Avenue, 25th Street and Idylwyld Drive, 22nd Street and Idylwyld Drive, and 20th Street and Avenue R.
Witness describes scene
Tara Keshane was driving down 20th Street when she said she saw a red car fly by her.
Thomas Dehod was shopping at a store on 2nd Avenue at the time when the red car sped past the store.
"I head a whole bunch of people yell and the guy who was helping me ran to the front of the store," Dehod said. "I went out to the front just in time to see the tail end of the vehicle go by and moments later heard a loud crash."
Dehod said moments later a police cruiser collided with the red car in the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 22nd Street.
"People were scared, most people were ducking down," Dehod explained. "By the time I got outside, which was about five minutes later, I believe the suspect was still on the ground. There was a large crowd of police officers gathered around what I assume was the suspect and an ambulance had just pulled up. I spoke with one person there on the corner who said police had actually fired a few shots, but I couldn't confirm that.
"There were several people in the store who said as the car drove past that they heard several gunshots and saw the man holding his arm out the window, pointing a gun into the air and around at different things, at people," Dehod said.
With files from CBC's Madeline Kotzer