SASKATOON — A man with an axe who appeared ready to jump off a bridge Monday evening was subdued by police and is expected to face charges for injuring an officer.
Saskatoon Police Service issued a release late Monday stating that on Feb. 28 at approximately 8:30 p.m., patrol officers were dispatched to the train bridge near 33rd Street East and Spadina Crescent East with a report from at least two separate callers that a male on the bridge appeared to be preparing to jump.
Four officers attended to the bridge at approximately 8:40 p.m. and located a man standing on the outside of the bridge railing.
According to the release, the man climbed back over to the proper side of the railing and presented an axe towards the officers, threatening to throw the axe at them.
Verbal commands given by the officers to the man were ignored and he threw the axe at the group of officers, stated the release. The axe struck an officer in the hip and caused an injury that was later treated by a few stitches.
After throwing the axe, the man climbed back to the outside of the bridge railing. Officers were able to take hold of the male and pulled him back to the walkway. A struggle ensued and another officer was punched and spit on. Officers were eventually able to subdue the man and take him into custody.
A 41-year-old resident of Saskatoon was to remain in custody and appear at provincial court Tuesday. Charges were expected to be laid for assaulting the group of officers, carrying a weapon and breaching conditions of a peace bond.
