By Thia James

Woman attacked with bear spray at party: Police

Aug 11, 2014 | 5:07 PM

Police in Prince Albert are looking for a 20-year-old man who attacked a woman he knew with bear spray at a party on Saturday.

The woman was out with friends when police say one of them attacked her with bear spray. The woman was treated at Victoria Hospital and reported the incident after she was released.

Police then issued an arrest warrant for the man, who will face charges of assault with a weapon and breach of an undertaking – the latter referring to an alleged breach of conditions on a previous release from custody.

It was the latest in a number of bear spray attacks that have taken place year-to-date. In June, there were two separate attacks in one weekend.

In one of those incidents, a 73-year-old man who confronted would-be robbers in his garage was sprayed.

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“It seems to come up very frequently here,” Sgt. Brandon Mudry said on Monday of the number of incidents in the city.

He noted that the police have been working with local businesses to see who is buying bear spray. Businesses have the option of taking part in the program, which Mudry said requires purchasers to provide identification to the retailer.

“But again, there’s many different ways, many different places to obtain bear spray. I mean, ultimately, you know, it’s not easy to find out where it’s all coming from,” he added.

The police are not releasing the name of the suspect in this latest incident, but are saying that officers are actively looking for him.

The police also dealt with a pair of commercial break and enters. In one of those incidents, the suspects got away with a large sum of cash.

On Sunday, just before 8:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of a break and enter in the 1300 block of Second Avenue West.

According to police, the suspects manipulated the security system and fled with the undisclosed amount of money. One suspect is described as wearing a grey hoodie, the other as wearing a black hoodie.

The police’s forensic identification unit is now assisting in the investigation.

In the other commercial break and enter incident, police dealt with an alarm-related call at a business in the 300 block of 13t Street East early Saturday morning.

Police at the scene found a door to the business unlocked and a man sleeping on the floor. They believe the man was intoxicated.

A 33-year-old man now faces a break and enter charge and will make his first court appearance at the Prince Albert Provincial Court on Aug. 19. He made an appearance in front of a justice of the peace this past weekend.

This weekend, the police received 258 calls for service, resulting in 68 arrests. Out of those arrested, 40 were for public intoxication.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames