A Saskatoon motorist was arrested following a confrontation at the roadside during a traffic stop yesterday.

On April 12, 2023 at around 4:30 p.m., a member of 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. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Circle Drive near Airport Drive. Upon pulling over, the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle discarded a cigarette onto the roadway. As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver immediately became confrontational. While being informed of the reasons for the traffic stop, the officer observed unstamped tobacco products on the passenger seat. The driver then refused to provide the illegal tobacco products to the officer and instead attempted to hide them. As the officer attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle, a physical struggle ensued resulting in minor injuries to the officer. The driver was arrested with the assistance of additional officers a short time later.

As a result, the 36-year-old Saskatoon man has been charged with obstructing a police officer. He was also issued summary offence 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.