By CHIEF RON CHOMYN, Corman Park Police Service
Season’s greetings from the Corman Park Police Service family to yours.
This is a time to gather with loved ones, look back on the year, and give thanks for all we have.
While most of us will be spending the holidays with our families, hundreds of police officers, military personnel, and other first responders throughout our country will miss celebrations with their loved ones. They will be on duty, fulfilling their responsibility to keep the public safe.
Work does not “slow down” for emergency personnel between Christmas and New Year’s. In fact, this is one of the busiest times of the year. As we travel to visit family, sit down to Christmas dinner, and open presents, 911 dispatchers are fielding emergency calls and police, fire and emergency personnel are responding to emergencies.
So as we celebrate this year, let’s take a moment to remember those working over the holidays. Their sacrifice and service to our communities allows us to enjoy the holidays in peace.
Incidents of Note
At 8:48 a.m. on December 6, CPPS was patrolling east bound on Cedar Villa Road when he noticed a white Ford F-150 (now known to be stolen) westbound being driven by a male wearing a black and white bandanna pulled up over his face to his eyes.
The license plate was registered to a vehicle that was not a Ford truck and when police turned around to stop it, the truck fled into the city eastbound on Hart Road, eventually losing control near 22nd Street, getting stuck on a snowbank. CPPS informed Saskatoon Police Service of the incident and that the driver had fled on foot. The suspect was located by the police K9 unit a short time later and arrested.
On December 9, at 3:10 a.m., CPPS received a call from Saskatoon Fire regarding a semi-tractor on fire close to a workshop structure at Range Road 3055 and Township Road 384. CPPS arrived and spoke with the property owner, who advised at 3:00 his engine heater for his semi turned on and a few minutes later he noticed the semi was burning. Martensville Fire put the fire out, with heavy damage to the semi and exterior damage to the workshop.
On December 9, CPPS assisted Warman RCMP with a report of a vehicle versus train collision on Range Road 3071 and Highway 305.
Upon arrival, Dalmeny and Langham Fire were on scene. Luckily, no injuries were reported. It appears the driver of the vehicle did not see the train until the last moment and began to slide into the train.
On December 11 at 2:30 p.m., RCMP DOCC put out a call of a single vehicle accident on Hwy 11 southbound just north of Lutheran Road. The driver appeared to have had a seizure while driving, veered into the west ditch and got hung up on the CN railway track. EMS attended scene and transported him to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon for further medical treatment.
On December 14 at 8:28 p.m., CPPS observed a tan Buick SUV idling on Range Road 3064 south of Highway 16 and stopped to check on the well-being of the driver.
While speaking with the driver roadside, police observed unstamped cigarettes in plain view. The driver was advised the vehicle would be inspected in accordance with the Saskatchewan Tobacco Tax Act for additional contraband tobacco and became confrontational and obstructed the officer, refusing to exit the vehicle as instructed. The driver was placed under arrest for obstruction a brief struggle ensued, and he was cuffed and placed in custody.
A search of the vehicle revealed a meth pipe, and addition packs of unstamped cigarettes. The driver displayed signs of impairment consistent with a person under the influence of a stimulant, was read the SFST Demand and was transported to the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment for processing.
The driver refused to follow instruction, and was ultimately charged with failing to comply with the demand. He was issued an Appearance Notice to attend Saskatoon Provincial Court on January 23, 2025, to answer to the charges.