A 36 year old Saskatoon man is facing charges in connection to an alleged confrontation with an officer during a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon. The Saskatoon Police Service reports that around 4:30 yesterday (Wed), an officer with the Traffic Unit was conducting enforcement in the area of Avenue C North and Circle Drive when a motorist passed by without a seat belt on.

During a traffic stop on Circle Drive near Airport Drive, police say the driver discarded a cigarette onto the road and as the officer approached, became confrontational. The officer noticed unstamped tobacco products on the passenger seat, but it’s alleged the driver refused to hand them over and instead attempted to hide them. There was a physical struggle resulting in minor injuries to the officer while attempting to remove the driver from the vehicle.

He was arrested with the help of additional officers a short time later. He is charged with obstructing a police officer and was also issued tickets for failing to wear a seat belt, discarding waste in an improper manner, and possession of unstamped tobacco products without proof of paid tax.