Man charged after ‘physical altercation’ with Saskatoon police officer

A 28-year-old Saskatoon man is facing charges after he allegedly assaulted a police officer Friday.

According to police, members of the Guns and Gangs Unit saw a wanted man Friday at around 7:30 p.m. near 22nd Street West and Avenue O. When officers tried to arrest the man, what police called “a physical altercation” occurred and an officer allegedly was hit by the suspect.

“The suspect was observed attempting to reach for, what was believed to be, a firearm concealed in his pants, before a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) was successfully deployed and he was taken into custody,” police said in a release. “It was discovered that the suspect’s weapon was not a firearm, but a machete concealed on his person.”

Police also found ammunition on the man.

The man, who had an outstanding warrant, was charged with assaulting a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon.