Some of the weapons seized. Photos courtesy Prince Albert Police Service.
Prince Albert police are commending officers for managing to avoid serious injuries on all sides during a “scary” arrest earlier this week where a suspect seemed to be reaching for a concealed weapon.
The police service is encouraging the public, if they see any officers this weekend, to thank them for their commitment to keeping people safe during a difficult week.
“This week officers were involved in multiple dangerous situations in the line of duty. Officers and civilian members have also had a heavy case load this week with the call volumes and severity of incidents,” Prince Albert Police Service wrote on Facebook.
The most recent dangerous incident started around 4 a.m. on Thursday when patrol officers caught sight of a suspicious, stolen vehicle outside a known criminally active home in the West Flat. When officers approached the vehicle, a man and woman got out and tried to walk into the home while passively avoiding the officer’s “verbal commands for compliance,” according to a police news release.
Police say they witnessed the man take actions that looked like he was attempting to conceal a possible weapon, and he resisted arrest. Police say at one point it seemed the man was reaching into his waist to grab something, and during the struggle other officers arrived to help out and say a knife fell from the male suspect.
It appears officers used OC spray to get him under control, and he was later treated by paramedics for minor injuries. There were two other people in the car who were also arrested, and police later found two guns, a knife, a BB handgun, and ammunition in the car.
The quick thinking and techniques used by the arresting officers kept anyone from getting seriously hurt, according to the news release.
Insp. Jason Stonechild took to Twitter to commend the officers, writing “Scary incident for our patrol members last night, thanks to skill and professionalism no one was hurt, including the bad guy! Great job guys.”
Prince Albert Police wrote on Twitter, “If you see a cop plz take a moment to thank them. Members have been working overtime & in scary situations this week keeping us safe.”
Criminal charges allege that Saskatoon’s Shannan Brennan Cote, 19, was the suspect who resisted arrest. The court docket for his first appearance showed he also faces past charges of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking, breaches, mischief, and careless use of a firearm.
Cote and three others are charged with firearms offences and possession of a stolen vehicle: Gilbert D. Beauchamp, 21, and Dale Derrick Badger, 20, both of Big River, and Loretta Sakebow, 29, of Pelican Lake.
Beauchamp faces past charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, tampering with a serial number, and failure to provide a breath sample.
They all made their first court appearance in Prince Albert on Friday and have been remanded until their court date next week.