Police negotiator helps distressed man off bridge

Thanks to local police officers, a distressed man was helped off the train bridge last weekend while experiencing an emotional crisis. 

Police were called just before noon on Sunday for a report of a man on the bridge. The man refused to speak with police for some time, but eventually began nodding in response to questions. Sgt. Kathy Edwardsen, a trained crisis negotiator, was brought in to help after 45 minutes. 

Sgt. Edwardsen has more than 20 years of experience as a police officer and has been trained as a negotiator since 2004. She said very little was known about the man when she arrived and it was difficult to even get his name. 

“You could tell he was hurting. He was in pain,” Sgt. Edwardsen said.

Sgt. Edwardsen continued talking with the man as members with Parkland Ambulance and the Prince Albert Fire Department waited nearby with patrol officers. 

“I told him that we wanted to help and that we were going to stay with him for as long as it took to get him to safety,” Edwardsen said. “I said there is no problem too big it can’t be solved, and that we would try to help him get through the pain”. 

The man eventually accepted help off the bridge, where he was connected with an officer from the PAPS Police and Crisis Team. Police stayed with the man until he could be seen by a doctor to ensure he was safe. 

Sgt. Edwardsen says that working as a negotiator is all about listening. Good teamwork and help from safety partners ensured the man felt supported enough to seek medical attention. 

“It wasn’t me that brought him off that bridge, it was the team.”

Additional arrest made following machete attack

An additional arrest has been made by the Prince Albert Police Service’s Crime Reduction Unit following an aggravated assault on a 53 year old man earlier this week. 

The victim was taken to hospital after he was attacked with a machete resulting in injuries to his head and hands. Police were called to an apartment block in the 100 block of 11st West just after midnight on Monday morning. 

A 16 year old youth was charged earlier this week with aggravated assault in relation to this incident. 

Upon further investigation, police have also charged 34 year old Gerald Aaron Bear with aggravated assault and two counts of court-ordered breach of release conditions.

PA man dissatisfied with the council meeting submission process

A Prince Albert resident has expressed his frustrations with the City Council Meeting review process. 

Brian Clavier has said he is dissatisfied with how the City of Prince Albert requires residents to notify the City Clerk’s office the week before a Council Meeting if they wish to speak, but the reports and agenda are not made public until Thursday. 

“My concerns are the same as they were 23 years ago. The city has no interest in actually talking to the public,” says Clavier. 

Clavier had emailed the Acting City Clerk, Terri Mercier, with questions regarding the council meeting review process, where he was sent to the City of Prince Albert’s Finance Department. He asked who could answer his questions and he was sent back to the City Clerk’s office. 

“That’s when I found out they don’t have anything that they can give me. There is nothing available on the website,” he said.

Clavier said Mercier offered to extend the submission period until Monday, but he was hesitant.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it is an unusual request to ask for the original wording on changes that [City Council] proposes,” he said.

Terri Mercier says the reason for the submission deadline is to provide enough time for City Councilors to review the applications and add the approved presentations to the Agenda for Thursday. There is the option to extend the deadline until Monday in certain circumstances, but the likelihood that it would be approved is lower.

“We really try to limit that because we really don’t think it’s fair for both parties, but it is still an option”, says Mercier.

City’s 2022 finance proposal to include new base taxes

A base tax for homes and multi-unit residential properties will be considered at Monday’s council meeting in order to fund City priorities for 2022. 

The report recommends a 1.8% increase in the mill rate, as well as a $40 base tax for residential properties and a $20 base tax per apartment in multi-residential properties. The funds will be used towards the $1.8 million needed for City expenses.

A tiered base tax for commercial properties will also be considered at the meeting. 

A base tax was chosen to reduce the difference in taxes between higher and lower valued homes. After the 2021 revaluation, some properties in Prince Albert saw as much as a 30% increase in property tax.

“By going with a base tax we will move toward addressing the shift in the market and the dramatic impacts this had on higher valued homes in Prince Albert,” says Mayor Greg Dionne. 

A few existing taxes will be renamed as special taxes at the upcoming meeting. The snow management and future infrastructure base tax will be renamed the snow management special tax, which will be specifically dedicated to operation expenses. The new special tax will be revisited annually to determine if adjustments will be required to properly fund the reserve. 

A few other tax changes will be proposed by Administration, including a $100 increase to the minimum tax. The additional generated funds will be used to pay for projects around Prince Albert like Little Red Rotary Adventure Park and the James Isbister basketball court replacement. 

The council meeting will occur at 5 p.m. on Monday and the report can be viewed online at https://eagenda.ca:5001/IIP/princealbert.

Saskatoon man arrested on child pornography charges

A 19 year old man was arrested on child pornography charges in Saskatoon on March 23rd.

Members of the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) executed a search warrant at a residence that was identified as the location where the offences were occurring.

The Saskatoon man was charged in relation to an investigation of luring, extortion, and possession of child pornography through a popular online social media application. He was later released from the Saskatoon Provincial Court on numerous conditions.

The Saskatchewan ICE Unit is composed of the Provincial Coordinator Staff Sgt. Shawn Stubbs and the investigators from the Prince Albert Police Service, RCMP, Regina Police Service, and the Saskatoon Police Service. Their mandate is to investigate crimes involving the abuse and exploitation of children on the internet.

City of Prince Albert shares tips on preparing for spring run off

The City of Prince Albert would like to share some tips with residents to prepare for spring run off and prevent homes from flooding. 

Snow accumulation this winter has been the highest in the city in over 30 years and removing it has been a challenge for everyone, including residents, and city crews. Your home may be at risk of flooding if the snow melts quickly, even if it has not flooded before. 

Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent your home from flooding:

Remove snow from around your foundation, starting with any snow close to basement windows. Water too close to your basement wall can seep through tiny cracks and create a damp basement, or damage the foundation of your house. Shoveling snow is hard work but is made easier by doing a little bit each day. 

Clear snow and ice from around the bottom of your downspouts and extend the downspouts at least two metres so water drains away from the foundation. Check your roof and gutters for excess snow and leaves. Be considerate of your neighbors and prevent water from draining onto their property.

Help keep catch basins clear in your area by safely clearing snow, ice, and debris from the catch basins where possible. Try to keep snow in your yard as shoveling onto streets or lanes could block drains. City crews are busy steaming frozen catch basins to ensure proper drainage on City streets. You can report a frozen catch basin to Public Works at (306) 953-4900.

Slow down when you see a pothole or pool of water to avoid vehicle damage and splashing pedestrians. New potholes will appear often during the freeze/thaw cycle at this time of year. Help crews locate potholes by reporting them using the City of Prince Albert’s online form.

A more comprehensive list of tips to prevent basement flooding due to spring run off can be found at https://www.citypa.ca/en/living-in-our-community/basement-flooding-and-spring-runoff.aspx

Police lay 4 charges in 5 separate incidents, including 2 against youth

Prince Albert Police Service responded to five separate weapons complaints last week, with two incidents ending with charges against youth.

PAPS received a report last Tuesday morning of a man threatening another man with a knife. Officers located the man in the Unit Block of 14th Street East and he was arrested at the scene. Dwayne Whitefish, age 42, is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in relation to this incident. 

Just after midnight on Monday morning, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 Block of 11tth Street West after a report of assault with a machete. A 53 year old man was taken to hospital with injuries to his head and hands following the attack. A 16 year old youth is charged with aggravated assault and further charges are pending. 

Police were called to the 200 Block of 15th Street West at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a vehicle stolen at gunpoint. The occupants attempted to flee but were located in the area around 6th Avenue and 28th Street West soon after. Brittany Elderkin, age 27, from Southend, is facing charges including robbery with a firearm and dangerous driving. An arrest warrant has been issued for a 31-year-old man. 

Police were dispatched to the 200 Block of 10th Street East just after 4 p.m. Saturday for a report of a man who had been shot. Patrol located a man with a gunshot wound to his leg upon arrival and he was transported to hospital by Parkland Ambulance in stable condition. Police continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 306-953-4222 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. 

Just after midnight on Saturday morning, a woman reported being threatened and assaulted by someone with a knife and bear spray in the 2600 block of Central Avenue. The suspect fled the area, but was later arrested after officers located a man matching the suspect’s description at a nearby residence. A 17 year old youth is charged with assault with a weapon and breach of court order. 

City moves from snow removal to water drainage as weather warms up

Now that spring is on its way, warm weather brings with it some roadway challenges that the City would like residents to be aware of.

While road crews start the switch from snow to water operations, the City of Prince Albert would like to warn the public that they are expecting the following issues to continue over the next month or so until the frost is out of the ground.

Water and Sewer crews steam out frozen catch basins this time of the year to ensure proper drainage on City streets. There are 2569 catch basins in Prince Albert and it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours to thaw. If you see a frozen catch basin, you can report it to Public Works at (306) 953-4900.

The snow dumps have become too muddy, which means snow lifting season is coming to an end. Roadways will not be lifting any more snow for the rest of the season unless cooler temperature allows dumping. Roadway crews will be grading several residential streets and plowing some back lanes that have accumulated ruts from the melting ice. They will also be topping up Water and Sewer digs that have begun sinking. 

If water from city streets is posing a direct threat to property, the City has said they will respond. However, they will not be responsible for water issues that are a result from snowmelt on private property. 

New potholes will begin appearing during the freeze/thaw cycle at this time of year. They are caused when moisture, such as snowmelt or rain, enters a crack in the pavement, then freezes and expands in cold temperatures. The expansion puts pressure on the crack, causing the asphalt to break away, resulting in a pothole. Vehicle traffic over the pothole can cause the edges to crumble, which increases the size.

To help crews locate potholes, residents are encouraged to report a pothole by using the online form: www.citypa.ca/report-a-pothole

Potholes are repaired based on the same priority system used for snow removal. The high traffic, arterial roadways will be repaired first, followed by school zones and bus routes, the central avenue business district, and finally residential areas. 

Many of these issues will be dealt with simultaneously and the City is asking for patience while Water and Sewer crews respond.

Residents experiencing significant water pooling problems on their street can report the issue to the Public Works Department at (306) 953-4900 or by sending an email through the City of Prince Albert website.

Council to examine snow management reserve fund after busy winter

A report by Administration will be considered at the March 28th meeting to review expenses related to the snow management reserve fund. 

During the 2022 City of Prince Albert budget deliberations, note was taken of an ongoing deficit in the reserve. Council requested more information to understand how snow management is budgeted and what accounted for deficits in the fund. 

The reserve fund was created in 2014 to account for fluctuation in snow management expenses. The early years of the fund saw surpluses accumulate in the reserve, but back-to-back years of high snow accumulation and major snow events resulted in ongoing deficits. 

The budget was increased to account for increased costs, but there has not been a break in difficult snow years since 2018. Record snowfall this year led to narrow driving lanes and sightline issues which created urgent safety concerns. There were also large temperature swings causing deep rutting and difficult driving conditions.

“There was an impression that because there was a deficit, we were slowing down our operations,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “This isn’t the case. Our crews respond to whatever winter conditions exist in a year. The job needs to get done.”

In challenging years, crews are required to put in additional hours and during major snow events, contractors are called in to help.

“Crews put in long hours and that’s just the reality of what was required. In some years it will mean deficits, but we have to make the roads as safe and accessible as possible.”

The snow management expenses report will be made available on March 24th at the City Council Agenda page.

Crews are now focusing the majority of their efforts on targeting areas prone to spring flooding. Known areas are being targeted first. Residents are also asked to prepare their homes for the spring melt.

Information on how to prepare a home for spring melt can be found at https://www.citypa.ca/en/living-in-our-community/basement-flooding-and-spring-runoff.aspx

RCMP deploy spike belt to stop impaired driver

A La Ronge man is facing charges of impaired driving after evading police during an early morning pursuit on March 18.

RCMP received a call around 3:05 a.m. that someone was being held against their will in a vehicle in Sucker River. Officers located the vehicle on Highway No. 102 and attempted to stop it with lights and sirens engaged. 

Police continued to follow the vehicle but it was observed to be driving erratically and at high rates of speed. Smeaton RCMP deployed a spike belt at the junction of Highway No. 106 and Grid 165, and the vehicle was safely stopped with no injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, 27 year old Kaylen Charles, faces impaired and dangerous driving charges as well as one count of fleeing from a peace officer. During the investigation, Charles was observed showing signs of impairment and refused to provide a breath sample. He will appear in La Ronge Provincial court on April 25. 

“Multiple Saskatchewan RCMP units were involved in stopping this vehicle, which drove more than 150 kilometres while police actively tried to get it to stop. This is an excellent example of Saskatchewan RCMP units working collaboratively to ensure public safety,” said Staff Sgt. Dean Bridle, commander of the La Ronge RCMP. 

After an extensive investigation, La Ronge RCMP have found no evidence of anyone taken against their will. Police continue to investigate the source and circumstances of the initial call. 

“A report of a person taken against their will is a serious, priority call and our officers responded as such,” Bridle said. “Thankfully, they determined this did not occur.”