Police briefs: Three arrested after allegedly confining women in apartment during robbery

A woman and her roommate were allegedly confined inside  their apartment suite by three people on Sunday morning in Saskatoon’s City Park neighbourhood.

Officers were called to an apartment building in the 200 block of Second Avenue North for the report of a robbery at about 12:15 a.m.

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Police said the female victim was smoking a cigarette outside the building when “she was approached by three unknown persons who forced her back into the building and demanded she go into the suite.”

The three people allegedly confined the victim and her roommate inside the apartment while the suspects robbed the suite and took her vehicle’s keys. Officers said the suspects then fled in the victim’s vehicle.

Police said the vehicle was located nearby a short time later, but the officers spotted the suspects getting into a cab. Police said they were arrested after a traffic stop.

Two women, ages 31 and 32, and a 26-year-old man are now facing a number of charges related to kidnapping, unlawful confinement, breaking and entering, robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.

Teen charged after allegedly brandishing hatchet during robbery

A teenager is facing charges after using a hatchet in a robbery on Friday afternoon.

Police said officers responded to a mall in the 200 block of First Avenue South for a reported robbery in progress about 3:30 p.m.

“Upon arrival, police learned an individual had brandished a hatchet and threatened staff while attempting to flee with unpaid merchandise,” said the Saskatoon Police Service in a statement.

A short time later, police said a person matching the suspect’s description was located walking in the 100 block of Third Avenue North, but the teen allegedly took off on foot after spotting the officers.

“They were arrested a short time later, following a brief physical altercation, and a hatchet was recovered,” said the Saskatoon Police Service.

The 16-year-old is now charged with robbery, resisting arrest, and possession of a dangerous weapon, police said.

Suspect arrested after allegedly boarding bus with knife hidden in pants

A 50-year-old man was arrested after allegedly getting onto a bus with three knifes, including one hidden in his pants, on Friday afternoon in the Riversdale neighbourhood.

Police said officers were dispatched to the area of 20th Street West and Avenue O South after getting a report of a man with two knives at a bus stop. The officers learned that the man had boarded a bus after they arrived.

“… they also boarded the bus and located the suspect, who was brandishing two knives,” the police force said in a statement.

“He was taken into custody without incident, and upon his arrest, found to be concealing a third knife in his pants.”

The man is facing three counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, along with charges of carrying a concealed weapon and breaching court-imposed conditions.

Multiple armed men charged after allegedly attempting to rob business

Police are investigating an attempted robbery of a business by multiple men armed with various weapons in Saskatoon’s Fairhaven neighbourhood on Sunday.

According to police, a “confrontation” ensued during the robbery, and the suspects fled without stealing anything.

Police using a dog searched for the suspects, but came up empty.

Man faces charges after allegedly pointing gun at group

A 35-year-old man faces several weapons-related charges as well as a charge for breaching court-imposed conditions following his arrest on Sunday morning.

Police said officers were called to a home in the 1600 block of Avenue C North for “a report of a firearm being pointed towards a group of people.”

According to the Saskatoon Police Service, the suspect fled before the officers arrived.

Police later identified the suspect, and he was arrested at a business in the 3300 block of Fairlight Drive.

According to police, officers later searched a home on the 3100 block of 33rd Street West in connection with the man’s arrest, seizing a sawed-off rifle, ammunition and body armour.

Police vehicle used to stop suspect vehicle in Stonebridge neighbourhood after high-speed chase

Police said a high-speed chase began when officers spotted a vehicle driving without lights in the Westmount neighbourhood on Friday night.

Saskatoon Police Service said the vehicle was seen in the 900 block of 22nd Street West.

When the officers attempted a traffic stop, police said the vehicle began to “evade at a high rate of speed.”

Police used a tire deflation device in the area of Avenue P North and 23rd Street West, but said the driver continued to evade police.

“A police vehicle was later used to immobilize the suspect vehicle on Circle Drive near Clancy Drive, allowing police to arrest its occupants without further incident. Following a search of a passenger, a knife was located on their person,” said the police force.

The 27-year-old male driver has been charged with evading police and dangerous driving, while the 29-year-old male passenger was charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace.

Woman arrested after allegedly bear spraying loss-prevention officer

Police said a loss-prevention officer at a business on Betts Avenue was assaulted by a woman armed with bear spray on Monday.

According to police, two women in the business were “acting suspiciously and were believed to be attempting to shoplift.”

When the 43-year-old loss-prevention employee approached them, police said one of the woman sprayed him with bear spray before fleeing.

Police said the victim was treated for the effects of the spray, and noted that nothing was stolen during the incident.