By CHIEF ROBERT DUTTCHEN, Corman Park Police Service
On the morning of July 13, at about 7:00 a.m., a Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) member responded to a report of a vehicle stuck in a field near Range Road 3062 and Township Road 372. On arrival, the officer found three vehicle occupants passed out, an open liquor container, a canister of bear spray wrapped in black electrical tape, and a pipe used for consuming drugs. Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) members attended, and all three individuals were taken into custody and conveyed to SPS headquarters for processing.
Later that evening, at about 5:00 p.m., police observed a cyclist southbound on Highway 219 go around the control arm of the railway crossing while the arm was down and the lights were flashing. When a CPPS officer attempted to detain the individual and took hold of him, the suspect spun around and spontaneously assaulted the officer. The suspect and officer went to the ground, with the suspect raining blows down on the officer. Eventually, the officer was able to gain the upper hand on the suspect and, with the help of a civilian who stepped in to assist, the suspect was taken into custody.
Multiple police units from the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment, SPS and CPPS attended in response to the officer “needs assistance” call. The RCMP arrived first and took custody of the culprit. As a result of the assault, the officer suffered a haematoma to his upper body and his sunglasses were broken. The suspect was conveyed to the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment, where he was processed. On behalf of CPPS, I extend sincere thanks to the member of the public and to members of the RCMP and SPS for their timely response to assist our member.
On the afternoon of July 14, CPPS stopped a vehicle on Highway 7 near Highway 60 due to the manner of driving. At roadside, the officer determined not only that the driver did not have a licence, but also that she was impaired by a suspected opioid. The driver was given a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and, as a result of her poor performance, was issued a 60‑day licence suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for 33 days.
That same afternoon, CPPS responded to a report of a three‑vehicle collision on Highway 11. The report indicated that a passenger vehicle was travelling northbound in the southbound lane and had collided with a semi. Both the Saskatoon RCMP and CPPS attended the scene. The driver of the car provided a breath sample into an approved screening device, resulting in a “fail.” He was subsequently conveyed to the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment, where CPPS was able to support the investigation by providing a qualified breath technician. The suspect provided two breath samples of 250 mg% and 240 mg%. This collision could have been substantially more serious had the driver of the semi not been able to steer his rig into the ditch, resulting in a sideswipe collision rather than a head‑on one.
On July 15, CPPS, in consultation with the RCMP Saskatoon Detachment and with the assistance of the Vanscoy RM Police Service, executed a search warrant on a property in the vicinity of Highway 219. This property is well known to police, and officers attended to seize a stolen travel trailer. When police entered the dwelling house on the property, they observed extensive evidence of drug trafficking. As a result, the two occupants of the residence were taken into custody.
A second search warrant was obtained for the residence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Both search warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately $16,000 worth of drugs, a travel trailer and a flat‑deck trailer. The female resident was charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and one count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. The CPPS extends its sincere thanks to the RCMP for their support and authorization, which allowed CPPS to run this investigation.
Some readers may not be aware that, although CPPS members are fully sworn police officers, the Order in Council under which we operate requires us to turn over criminal matters to the RCMP. This investigation demonstrates how the support of the RCMP and our collaboration with them can allow CPPS to conclude successful investigations. We are grateful that the relationship works as well as it does — and we remain committed to open conversations with our policing partners and with the public about how CPPS can best serve the region moving forward.
Just before 7:00 p.m. on July 17, a CPPS officer responded to an RCMP radio broadcast of a possible impaired driver who had gone into the ditch. CPPS located the vehicle near Township Road 374 and Range Road 3050. At roadside, a demand for a field sobriety test was made, and when CPPS conducted the test the driver performed poorly. As a result, the driver was issued a 3‑day licence suspension, and his vehicle was impounded for the same amount of time.
On the morning of July 19, CPPS responded to a report of a male walking along the railway tracks near Highway 16 and Winmill Road. Police located the male and were attempting to arrest him for trespassing when he began acting aggressively — discarding his backpack, kicking it once it was on the ground, pushing up his sleeves, clenching his fists, and telling the officer he was going to fight him. As the suspect turned toward the officer with his fists clenched, the officer deployed his conductive energy weapon (CEW), commonly referred to as a Taser, which effectively incapacitated the culprit, who was later determined to be high on methamphetamine.
Police summoned an ambulance, and the individual was checked over at the scene and medically cleared. The subject was conveyed to the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment, where he was held until sober and then released on an undertaking to appear in court.
The activity this week near the railway tracks is a great opportunity to remind everyone that railway tracks are not sidewalks. When the gates are down and the lights are flashing, the crossing is closed to everyone — drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Never walk on or near the tracks and never go around lowered gates while a train is passing. Trains are faster and quieter than they seem and cannot stop quickly, so even standing close to the rails can be deadly. Keep yourself and others safe: stay off the tracks, use only designated crossings, and report unsafe behaviour near railway property to police.