A17-year-old Saskatoon boy is in custody after a false report of an armed robbery.
The Saskatoon Police Service says it happened just after 5:30 p.m. Friday when they received a call from a person reporting an armed robbery in the 2400 block of 22nd St. W.
Police said the caller indicated that a man was in the back of the store and that another man in the kitchen area of the restaurant was armed with a shotgun.
A physical description of the suspect was given to police over the phone, but when the police operator asked the caller for his name, the call was disconnected. Since the call number was blocked, police say they were not able to call back.
As a result, numerous police units arrived on scene where they saw a person running from the area that matched the description the caller had provided. Police gave chase to the suspect who ran out onto 22nd St. W and into the side of a car travelling on 22nd. The suspect dented the vehicle, but managed to get up and continue evade officers until he was arrested at gunpoint a short distance away, police say.
Once the suspect was arrested, police said they spoke with staff at all restaurants in the 2400 block of 22nd St. W., but were unable to confirm any reports of an armed robbery. The 17-year-old suspect did not have any weapons on him, but police say he did have an outstanding warrant for his arrest for breaching a court order. The teen was transported to the Saskatoon Police Service Detention Centre where he is being held in custody.
Police are continuing an investigation into who may have been responsible for making the false armed robbery report.
If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Saskatoon Police Service at 306-975-8300 or Saskatoon Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.