Police watchdog investigating 'serious injury' to suspect accused of stealing 3 vehicles, dangerous driving
Sasaktoon police say charges against 37-year-old man pending
Saskatchewan's police watchdog is investigating the arrest of a man accused of stealing three vehicles and driving dangerously in Saskatoon and the surrounding area Thursday.
In a news release, the Saskatoon Police Service said a suspect who they allege stole the vehicles and evaded police — including driving into oncoming traffic and through parks or ditches at points — "sustained a non-life-threatening injury during his arrest."
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, or SIRT, has been notified, Saskatoon police said.
SIRT, which began operating earlier this year, is an independent and civilian-led unit that investigates serious incidents and injuries involving police officers.
Saskatoon police said in an earlier release they were called with a report of a stolen Audi S4 speeding northbound out of the city just before 9 a.m. Thursday.
Officers "strategically positioned themselves" to keep sight of the car, while an air patrol also began tracking it, according to police.
The Audi "continued at dangerously high rates of speed towards Langham," about 30 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, where police allege the driver abandoned the car and stole a Hyundai Tucson SUV.
Drove 'erratically' through parks
He continued east toward Dalmeny and then into Warman, just over 20 kilometres north of Saskatoon, where he abandoned the SUV and stole a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck, police allege.
He then returned to Saskatoon, driving through the security gates of the Silverwood golf course at the north end of the city, according to police.
He continued to drive "erratically through residential streets and parks," police say, including driving onto the Meewasin Trail.
A police vehicle was used to bring the truck to a stop on Capilano Court, the police news release said.
The driver fled from "the heavily damaged vehicle" along Spadina Crescent E., where he was arrested following a struggle with officers, according to police.
In a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team said it was "deployed to an incident … that resulted in serious injury to one person."
The social media post offered no further information, but said more details will follow.
The Saskatoon Police Service news release said SIRT's civilian executive director has taken over an investigation into the man's injury.
Charges against the 37-year-old man from Saskatoon are pending, police said.