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Transit supervisor prevents bear spray attack

SPS responded to several bear spray incidents in different areas of the city last week.
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Saskatoon Transit's downtown terminal.

SASKATOON—A Saskatoon Transit supervisor prevented a possible bear spray attack on its employees and bus commuters on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the downtown terminal on 23rd Street East. The incident happened a little past 7 p.m.

According to the report, the Transit supervisor saw a group of youth boarding one of the buses waiting at the terminal and became suspicious of their activity after seeing what looked like a can of bear spray.

The supervisor called Saskatoon Police Service for assistance, and upon search by the responding patrol officers, the group had bear spray and an imitation firearm concealed. The group were arrested.

A second group boarded a separate bus and also had bear spray and an imitation firearm with them upon search. An adult and five youths are facing charges in connection to the incident.

SPS also responded to several bear spray incidents in different areas of the city last week, including one involving two youth groups where one individual discharged bear spray at Midtown Mall’s food court.

Saskatoon Transit increased its uniformed personnel who patrol the downtown bus terminal for the safety of their employees and the riding public after several violent incidents happened last year, including a bus driver being assaulted by two youths.

Saskatoon Transit introduced measures last summer to address safety in buses and at the downtown terminal in cooperation with SPS, the Saskatoon Fire Department, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 and other community volunteer groups.

The measures were implemented after Saskatoon Transit supervisors, bus operators, and customer service employees were exposed to aggressive and violent behaviour last spring. Security patrols are also done at the Confederation Mall and Market Mall terminals.

All Saskatoon Transit supervisors and operators have a direct line to emergency services in case they need assistance and must follow protocol when they notice suspicious activity.

In related news, at around 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, SPS’ patrol unit responded to a robbery in the 300 block of Cope Lane, where officers saw a store employee suffering from the effects of bear spray.

According to the victim, three teenagers entered the store and used the bear spray for them to steal various vape products. The suspects’ faces were covered, and they fled the scene after completing their robbery.

In another incident on Sunday, Jan. 19, at approximately 3:30 p.m., two individuals were reported to be victims of a bear spray and attempted stabbing in a shopping centre in the 3300 block of 8th Street East.

Responding police officers located the suspects aboard a Saskatoon Transit bus and were arrested. A can of bear spray was found on one of the suspects, who was charged with assault and breach of court-imposed conditions.

Five separate incidents involving bear spray deployment were reported last week, which involved teenagers, and three of which took place hours apart in one day.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact Saskatoon Police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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