Saskatoon police say officers used a taser to subdue a suspect who was threatening to hurt himself.
Police reported a man was spotted shoplifting at the Robb’s No Frills grocery store on 22nd Street West around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The 44-year-old man allegedly assaulted an employee who confronted him before fleeing out the back of the building.
Officers later spotted the suspect on Avenue W North.
Police said they approached the man, who then pulled out a needle and a pair of scissors and held them to his own neck.
With the suspect refusing to obey commands, one of the responding officers used a taser.
The man was reportedly incapacitated before he could do himself any harm. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and then charged with attempted theft, assault, possession of a weapon and uttering threats.
Saskatoon police will be reviewing the incident in line with their policy on officers’ use of tasers.
Saskatoon police taser shoplifting suspect
May 24, 2017 | 1:33 PM