The tattoos on Tyler Bear's face were among the main talking points as his trial started at Court of King's Bench on Tuesday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Alleged drug trafficker faces trial at Court of King’s Bench

Nov 4, 2025 | 5:02 PM

While under police surveillance in Prince Albert, a man wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant, was observed ignoring red lights and stop signs and was travelling at speeds between 100 and 140 km/h.

Those details were shared during Tuesday’s testimony at Tyler Bear’s trial at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert and relate to a series of events that occurred in the city in July 2023.

Crown prosecutor Stephen Jordan’s first two witnesses were the police officers who followed and participated in the eventual arrest.

Bear, who at the time was wanted for a parole violation, allegedly fled six times from police over a time span of 12 hours. Members of the Crime Reduction Team and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response team were tasked the next day with finding the vehicle and arresting Bear.

The officers testified how the suspect vehicle, an orange Kia Soul, was first located in the West Flat area, and then followed through the South Hill area.

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“We had eyes on him the entire time,” both officers testified.

The driver, who was wearing a black hoodie, black mask, black cap, but had visible facial tattoos, fled from officers at a high rate of speed. One of the passengers gave police the middle finger.

Roughly an hour later, the vehicle was found unoccupied in a back alley behind a residence on Spence Street.

While the plain clothed officers were inspecting the vehicle, Bear emerged from the home and initially asked what they were doing with the car.

When the men informed Bear they were in fact police officers, Bear went back into the residence, emerging a minute later on a BMX bike and carrying a backpack.

Three of the officers gave chase on foot and a fourth officer pursued in an unmarked police vehicle.

Bear then headed north on 17th Ave. West until reaching a dead end. The officer in the car bumped the back of the bike and Bear, after dropping the backpack, then attempted unsuccessfully to climb a nearby fence.

He was arrested soon after and loaded into the back of a police car. The officer who pulled Bear off the fence stated he had dealt with Bear before and noted gang affiliations.

Inside the backpack, officer found a loaded 22 caliber gun, ammo, 37 small bags of meth, a functioning scale and $1,690 cash. The quantities of the drugs ranged from .3 grams to 3.1 grams.

A photo of the items seized. (Prince Albert Police Service)

Bear’s lawyer Meaghan Ward grilled the officers on why no log book was kept and raised the fact that while it was believed to have been Bear driving, no one actually saw his face and only the facial tattoos.

Ward also raised the point that when he was loaded into the back of the police car, he was wearing a black sweater with a unique design pattern.

“Maybe for you it’s unique; I see that sweater all the time,” one of the officers replied.

In response to the question about why no log book was kept, and no scribe appointed, the officers explained there simply wasn’t time as it was a rapidly developing situation. They also reiterated their objective was to arrest the driver believed to be Bear and not to collect evidence.

Prior to the start of trial, Bear entered not guily pleas to a number of charges including possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to public peace, possession of property obtained by crime, operating a conveyance while prohibited from doing so, and operating a conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public. A guilty plea was entered to resisting arrest.

A total of four days have been set aside for the trial.

In May, 2020, Bear was convicted of similar charges and received a five-and-a-half year prison sentence with a three-year driving ban after his release. He was given credit for 359 days spent in pre-sentence custody and was also told he would have a lifetime firearms prohibition.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell