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A 21-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly bear spraying a man on a Saskatoon Transit bus earlier this month.
According to police, officers got a report about the alleged attack on a city bus on 23rd Street East shortly before 6 p.m. on June 10.
Read more:
- Passengers treated for injuries after suspect fires bear spray on Saskatoon bus: Police
- Victims treated for minor injuries after man allegedly bear sprays Saskatoon bus passengers
- Saskatoon police briefs: Stabbing on city bus, multiple people injured with bear spray
“Further investigation found that the suspect had verbally confronted the victim before bear spraying them and fleeing,” the police force explained in a statement. “Police obtained video evidence of the incident and, through continued investigation, identified the suspect.”
Police said a warrant for the man’s arrest was issued, and he subsequently turned himself in at police headquarters on 25th Street.
He’s now facing charges of assault with a weapon, along with mischief under $5,000.
What is bear spray?
Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray at a speed of over 100 km/h, approximately 10 m away. Capsaicin inflames the eyes and respiratory system of both animals and humans.
According to bearwise.org, the spray is oil-based, so first aid for the bear spray is to wash off the residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation subsides. The effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.
Late in 2024, the provincial government announced new regulations aiming to reduce the number of criminal incidents involving bear spray.
The changes include regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces and a ban on altering bear spray to hide or disguise the product’s identity. Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.
