Portage la Prairie RCMP dealt with two separate incidents involving bear spray this past weekend, resulting in charges for both adults and youths.
Teens arrested after confrontation escalates
The first incident took place on Saturday, May 24, at around 4:45 p.m. While on patrol, RCMP officers observed two youths carrying bear spray. Police stopped the pair, a 15-year-old female and a 13-year-old male, both from Portage la Prairie, and placed them under arrest.
As officers attempted to take the teens into custody, the situation quickly escalated when bystanders got involved.
“Other people in the area became involved, swarming the police officers,” notes RCMP in a statement.
Police called for backup, which arrived and was able to stabilize the situation. Both youths face charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and carrying a concealed weapon.
They have since been released and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
Men face charges after police stop suspect vehicle
The following morning, Sunday, May 25, just after 9:00 a.m., RCMP were called to a report of a person carrying bear spray at a location on the 2400 block of Saskatchewan Avenue West.
While en route, officers received information that helped them identify and locate a vehicle involved in the incident. A traffic stop was conducted shortly after, leading to the arrest of two men.
The 26 and 29-year-old males, both from Portage la Prairie, have each been charged with two counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.
Both men were released from custody and are expected to appear in court at a later date.
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