Saskatoon police respond to another bear spray call on city bus

A 16-year-old boy is facing charges after allegedly firing a can of bear spray on a Saskatoon transit bus on Tuesday evening.

The incident marks at least the third time bear spray has been discharged on a city bus this month.

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According to police, the call came in at around 6:30 p.m. Police said the suspects took off after allegedly setting off the stinging spray, but officers caught up with three of the four suspects on Avenue X South.

“Upon a search of one of the suspects, police located and seized a large machete and bear spray,” the Saskatoon Police Service explained in a statement.

“As a result, a 16-year-old male has been charged with possession of a weapon and carrying a concealed weapon. He was also found to be wanted on several warrants from the Prince Albert Police Service and was breaching his court-imposed conditions.”

Police said the case remains under investigation, and more charges could be laid.

Incidents continue despite provincial regulations

Earlier this year, the provincial government announced new regulations aiming to reduce the number of criminal incidents involving bear spray.

The changes include regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces, and a ban on altering bear spray in order to hide or disguise the product’s identity.

Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.

Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray to a distance of approximately 10 metres and at a speed of over 100 km/h. Capsaicin inflames the eyes and respiratory system of both animals and humans.

According to bearwise.org, the spray is oil-based, so first aid for bear spray is to wash off residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation lessons. Effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.