Saskatoon police Tased fleeing shoplifter
Saskatoon Canada April 4 2019
A 43-year-old man is facing charges after a shoplifting incident and later attempting to escape custody while in hospital, according to Saskatoon police.
Saskatoon police were called Tuesday afternoon to a business in the 300 block of Confederation Drive after a man was caught shoplifting, police said in a news release. The man, police said, was also wanted on outstanding warrants for assault with a weapon and theft under $5,000. According to police, he tried to flee and was resisting arrest when he threatened a police officer, saying he would stab the officer with a needle.
During the confrontation, police used a conducted energy weapon, commonly known as a Taser, but it was ineffective.
As a precaution, the man was transported to hospital after his arrest, police said. At roughly 8:30 p.m., the man attempted to flee again. Officers and the man became involved in a “physical confrontation,” at which time a Taser was deployed twice, but police say it did not help the officer subdue the man.
With help from hospital security, police took the man back into custody. He remained in hospital on Wednesday, according to police.
He is now facing charges of theft under $5,000 and assaulting a police officer. He also has four warrants out for his arrest.
The incident is under review in accordance with Saskatoon police policy.
