Regina police say Air Support Unit assisted in 75 calls in six days

Police in Regina say it’s been a very successful week for the Air Support Unit, which was part of 75 calls between May 28 and Monday.

Over those six days, police said the plane was in the air for 36 hours, and as a result of the calls 27 people were hit with 70 charges, and four guns were seized by officers.

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“These calls ranged from weapons offences to dangerous driving incidents to locating a suspect fleeing a domestic assault,” the Regina Police Service explained in a statement.

The officers in the air combine their investigative skills with “the aircraft’s incredible onboard camera technology and mapping system,” police said, in order to assist officers on the ground. (980 CJME file photo)

The officers in the air combine their investigative skills with “the aircraft’s incredible onboard camera technology and mapping system,” police said, in order to assist officers on the ground.

“They are able to provide a wealth of information to officers on the ground and, together, they hold offenders accountable in a way that is safer for all involved,” the police service said.

On Sunday, officers were called to a home on McIntyre Street after getting a report that several suspects had tried to steal a set of keys and threatened a victim with a gun.

“The Aerial Support Unit was able to quickly get eyes on the location. From the air, officers

observed four people running to a nearby residence and go inside,” the police service said in a statement.

“Patrol officers and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrived on scene. Five

females were taken into custody, four from inside the residence and a fifth who was standing in the

immediate area. Four of the five females were released without charges. The fifth was arrested on

outstanding warrants.”

According to police, officers also found a man hiding in the crawlspace of the home, and a search turned up a CO2 handgun under a wooden walkway outside the home.

As a result, the 47-year-old man was charged with assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.

In a second case, police said officers in the air spotted a suspicious vehicle near Third Avenue and Montague Street at around 1 a.m. on Sunday.

“They alerted officers on the ground and a traffic stop was attempted. The vehicle did not stop for police and carried on at a high rate of speed through the city. ASU was able to follow the suspect vehicle from the air until it came to a stop on Mallard Avenue. Both occupants of the vehicle then exited the vehicle and fled into a nearby greenspace,” the police service explained.

“ASU continued to track them from the air and directed officers on the ground to their location. The two suspects were arrested without further incident. ASU officers also observed the suspects throwing items as they fled. A search subsequent to arrest turned up those items, a loaded, sawed-off shotgun and a pellet gun.”

A 36-year-old man is now facing a eight gun charges, along with charges of dangerous driving, flight from a peace officer and failing to comply with conditions of a release order.

In a third case, also from Sunday, officers spotted a vehicle that “had repeatedly evaded police during attempted traffic stops” at the intersection of Elphinstone Street and Dewdney Avenue.

Police attempted another traffic stop, but the driver allegedly took off “at a high rate of speed.”

Officers in the air tracked the vehicle until it stopped, and the driver was arrested after allegedly failing to comply with police commands. He was bitten by a police dog during his arrest, the police force said, and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The 35-year-old is facing charges of dangerous driving and fleeing from a peace officer.