Saskatoon police briefs: Man arrested after allegedly brandishing bear spray at mall

A 22-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after allegedly brandishing a canister of bear spray at Midtown mall.

According to police, officers were called to the mall on First Avenue South at around 2:30 p.m. after getting a report about a theft involving a man and a woman.

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“When confronted, the male brandished bear spray,” the Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement.

“When police arrived, security directed officers to the suspect’s location where he was taken into custody without incident. Upon his arrest, a can of bear spray was located in his waistband.”

Police said the 22-year-old is facing charges of possession of a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and breaching court-ordered conditions.

The mall has been the site of a number of recent incidents involving bear spray.

In November, there were two reported bear spray incidents at the mall. In one of them, a 13-year-old boy was charged after allegedly firing bear spray at one of the mall’s entrances. Then, in December, a 13-year-old and 16-year-old were charged for also allegedly firing the stinging spray at one of the mall’s entrances.

In January, police investigated another bear spray incident after they received a report that a group of youths discharged the spray in mall’s food court. Just days later, police responded to another bear spray attack where two security guards were sprayed, also in the food court area.

In April, two men faced assault charges after allegedly attacking a man at the mall. The victim was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

In an interview on the 650 CKOM Morning Show with Mark Loshack earlier this month, Tara Faris, the mall’s general manager, said Midtown’s “very robust security team” is working hard to keep the mall safe for all visitors.

Listen to the full interview with Faris:

According to Faris, the mall’s security staff includes 15 full-time officers, three supervisors and a security manager.

“We certainly invest very heavily in our security systems,” she said.

Man charged with robbery after mugging on 21st Street: Police

A 29-year-old man is facing a robbery charges after allegedly assaulting a 26-year-old man and stealing his headphones on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said officers were called to 21st Street East and Second Avenue South, in the city’s downtown core, at around 1:20 p.m.

When they arrived, the officers found the injured victim, and he was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening, police said.

“Upon further investigation, police identified the suspect and located him, in possession of the stolen headphones, in the back alley of the 100 block of 2nd Avenue South,” the police force said.

Saskatoon man charged with possessing child pornography

A 50-year-old Saskatoon man is facing charges related to child pornography, following an investigation by the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

Officers searched a home in Saskatoon on Oct. 8, police said, where they seized electronic devices. The 50-year-old man was later charged with possession of child pornography and two counts of making child pornography available.

Police said he appeared in court on Tuesday.