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Police investigating pair of weekend bear spray incidents

Jun 16, 2014 | 5:08 PM

The Prince Albert Police Service is investigating two bear spray incidents that took place early Saturday morning.

In one of the two incidents, a 73-year-old man was attacked with bear spray after he confronted two males who broke into his garage in the 1100 block of Sixth Street East.

He woke up to find the security alarm for his house going off. He then found that his garage doors were open and went outside. That is where he encountered the two suspects in his garage.

According to the police, he tried to detain them by closing the garage door, but they overpowered him and assaulted him with bear spray, also known as bear mace. Police were called out to the scene at 4:30 a.m. for the break and enter complaint.

The homeowner was treated at the scene by Parkland Ambulance paramedics.

Prince Albert Police Sgt. Brandon Mudry said that it is very risky to confront people who are breaking into their property, and he does not suggest that homeowners take matters into their own hands.

“Definitely call 911,” he said on Monday afternoon. “Provide updates as opposed to maybe going out and confronting … The dispatchers will ask you a line of questioning and you’ll be able to convey to them instantaneously what’s going on.”

One of the two male suspects is described as five feet, eight inches tall, and was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. The second male was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt.

Earlier on Saturday morning, the police were called out to the 200 block of 23rd Street East to evict a loud party from the premises, at around 3 a.m. After the police cleared the scene, the party restarted.

A male of unknown age released a can of bear spray in the residence, leading to another call to the police. Officers were again on scene at 3:30 a.m., this time to investigate the bear spray incident.

According to the police, witnesses described the male as wearing a black and white striped shirt, a striped hat, jeans and black running shoes.

Bear spray incidents aren’t uncommon in Prince Albert. Early last month, a 23-year-old man was attacked with bear spray in the 900 block of 17th Street West. Late last month, in a break and enter that ended up fatally injuring a 27-year-old man, the residents of a North Bay Trailer Court home were threatened with bear spray and other weapons. 

Last fall, a 15-year-old boy that was involved in an altercation with other teens was attacked with bear spray.

Police do have an idea who is purchasing bear spray at retailers where the product is sold. Mudry said some of the local businesses that sell bear spray participate in programs that tracks its sale. Buyers are asked for identification when making a purchase.

“I’m not going to tell you they can’t go elsewhere and go to businesses that aren’t participating, but I think in Prince Albert proper, I mean, I think the businesses are making a conscientious effort to track the sale of bear spray and then be aware of who’s buying it.”

Man accused of convenience store B&Es makes first court appearance

A 30-year-old man who was charged in connection to break and enters at two convenience stores and one local arena made his first court appearance on Monday morning.

Aaron James Abbott is facing charges in connection to three commercial break and enters and for the alleged theft of a vehicle that took place last week.

Cigarettes comprised the bulk of the items stolen from the two confectionaries and mostly confectionary items were stolen from the arena, Mudry said.

Abbott will remain in custody until his next court appearance Tuesday morning at the Prince Albert Provincial Court.

This weekend’s incidents were among a number that kept the Prince Albert Police Service busy. The responded to 299 calls for service, and 68 people were arrested and 41 of those arrests were for public intoxication.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames