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A picture taken at the time of the incident. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Crime

Man tased by police after dangerous driving and resisting arrest

Jan 30, 2025 | 4:34 PM

Prince Albert RCMP say a man who was tased by officers had been driving recklessly through a residential neighbourhood, ignoring signs and speeding.

Wednesday’s incident was initiated when a Saskatchewan RCMP officer with Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan was patrolling in the Prince Albert area and observed a vehicle driving more than 150 km/hr on Highway 3, east of Prince Albert.

The officer activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop and continued to drive in an erratic manner.

The vehicle later became disabled in the City of Prince Albert and when police approached it, the driver would not comply with commands, exited the vehicle and pointed a knife toward the officer.

The officer then deployed a conducted energy device and the man was arrested.

It’s believed Lafond may have lost his hat. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Multiple RCMP were observed on scene. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

After the arrest, officers seized a spring-loaded switchblade-style knife and a small baggie of methamphetamine

Austin Lafond, 29, from Prince Albert, is facing a number of charges including failure to stop for a peace officer, dangerous driving, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, resisting arrest, carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose, carrying a concealed prohibited weapon, and possession of a prohibited weapon while prohibited.

He appeared in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Thursday and was remanded to Friday.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell