Saskatoon police lay weapons, drug charges after vehicle flees traffic stop

Three people were arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop in Saskatoon early Monday and now they’re facing weapon- and drug-related charges.

According to the Saskatoon Police Service, officers tried to stop a suspicious vehicle on St. Lawrence Court at about 4:30 a.m.

The driver refused to stop, so police laid down stop sticks on Assiniboine Drive. The attempt was successful and the vehicle stopped in the 10 block of Kootenay Drive.

When the vehicle stopped, the male driver took off while officers arrested the two women who also were in the vehicle.

The Air Support Unit saw the driver and sent canine and patrol units to a garage in the 10 block of Churchill Drive, where he was trying to hide. With the help of the canine unit, the man was arrested.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a sawed-off rifle, an imitation firearm, a conducted energy weapon, two knives with finger loops, bear spray, two machetes, seven cellphones and a large quantity of methamphetamine packaged for distribution.

The 23-year-old driver was charged with evading police, driving while prohibited, possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, prohibited possession of a firearm, and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000. He also was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

A 30-year-old woman was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 and prohibited possession of a firearm. She too was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

A 21-year-old woman is facing charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5000, and breach of court orders.