Suspect opens bear spray when gas station sold out of favourite smokes

Saskatoon police are looking for a man in connection to a bear spraying and theft at two separate gas stations Wednesday morning.

In a news release, police said around 7 a.m., a man entered the Fas Gas on Idylwyld Drive North to purchase cigarettes.

When the clerk told the suspect the store didn’t carry the brand requested, the man allegedly opened a can of bear spray, then ran into the passenger seat of a waiting black Jeep Wrangler.

The employee was not injured.

Roughly 30 minutes later, police said the same vehicle was involved in an alleged gas-and-dash at a store in the 1300 block of Central Avenue.

The Jeep had been reported stolen from Cut Knife on Tuesday.

The suspect who deployed the bear spray is described as being approximately 20 years old, 5-foot-9 with a thin build.

He was wearing a black and red plaid button-up jacket, a white hoodie, dark grey sweat pants and a bright blue toque.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Saskatoon Police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-847.