Saskatoon police officer fires shots at tire of suspect vehicle during drug bust

A drug bust in Saskatoon included a suspect ramming two police vehicles and a police officer firing three bullets at the suspect’s vehicle in an attempt to stop it.

In a media release Monday, police said the incident occurred Saturday at about 7 p.m., when investigators with the Crime Reduction Team saw a suspected drug deal occurring in the parking lot of a motel in the 2500 block of 22nd Street West.

(Saskatoon Police Service/Submitted)

One of the people got into a vehicle, but officers closed in.

“Three unmarked Police vehicles surrounded the suspect vehicle to prevent the suspect from fleeing, but the suspect driver rammed two of the SPS vehicles,” the release said.

“During the collisions, the suspect vehicle struck one of the officers who was outside of their vehicle, while attempting to flee. The officer involved discharged their firearm at the tire of the suspect vehicle three times in an attempt to disable it.”

Police arrested the man who was driving the vehicle as well as a woman who was a passenger in the vehicle. Police said the officer who was hit by the vehicle suffered a minor injury, but didn’t require medical treatment.

The release said a review of the officer’s use of force will be conducted in accordance with policy.

The 40-year-old man was found to be carrying $80 in counterfeit cash, $400 and two cellphones. He was charged with assault with a weapon, trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000 and possession of counterfeit money.

The 43-year-old woman was charged with possessing cocaine.

The suspects’ vehicle was searched and found to have cash, cocaine and cellphones inside.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old woman who also was under investigation was arrested at a home in the 300 block of Silverwood Road. Police said officers executed a search warrant and found nearly 10 grams of fentanyl, 57 grams of a cutting agent and 143 grams of cocaine.

She was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000.