Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit says this weekend their plane was hit with a laser. And they say the laser actually allowed them to track suspects trying to break into vehicles. Around 2:15 a.m. on Monday the ASU was target and stuck by a green laser and managed to direct ground units to the 1600 block of 8th Avenue North.

Officers say they could see, from the air, a suspect and another male, trying to enter a shed and several vehicles. One attempt was successful. With guidance from ASU, units on the ground made the arrest. They also seized a laser. A 26-year-old man is charged with Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Identity Documents Relating to Another Person and had a Canada Wide Warrant for Breach of Statutory Release. He will also be charged under the Canadian Aviation Regulation Act. The 33-year-old man was charged with Possession of Stolen Property.

The last time Saskatoon Police had any record of having the Air Support Unit being targeted by a laser was in September 2020. The Regina Police Service says there have been seven instances so far this year where there have been charges and five were laser strikes on the police Aerial Support Unit.

Also on the weekend ASU assisted patrol officers after the driver of a stolen truck evaded police. The vehicle reached speeds as high as 98 kilometres per hour on Wayne Hicks Lane which is the road that borders the airport just north of the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market. Police say the suspect also had a loaded sawed-off shotgun.