A Saskatoon police constable hit and thrown from the hood of a car while chasing a suspect on foot has been released from hospital.
The 37-year-old member of the force is lucky to be alive or at the very least not seriously injured after being tossed like a rag doll after being struck by a car travelling westbound on 33rd Street on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m just glad that he’s OK because it could have been any one of us in the building that are actively engaged in our duties day to day,” Saskatoon police Staff Sgt. AJ Chevli said.
READ MORE: Saskatoon police officer struck by car chasing alleged vehicle thief
According to police, the suspect involved in the incident was first spotted in a stolen vehicle just before four in the afternoon. At some point, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot with the constable in hot pursuit.
No charges are being contemplated against the driver that struck the officer.
The 23-year-old carjacker has been identified as Ricky Sanderson after police apprehended him in at nearby apartment building several hours later.
Sanderson, who is known to police, had a warrant out for his arrest at the time of the auto theft.
On Wednesday, he appeared in Saskatoon provincial court and has been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 after police say the vehicle he stole had been left running.
“Thieves see there’s minimal risk, high reward,” Chevli said.
“It’s not a crime where they have to engage somebody face to face.”
READ MORE: Police pursuits tripled in Saskatoon over three years
To date, bait cars planted by police in auto theft “hotspots” have led to 17 arrests and at least 40 criminal charges against the offenders.
In 2016, three cars a day were stolen off Saskatoon streets. In seven out of 10 cases, the keys were inside or the vehicle unlocked.
READ MORE: Thieves make off with 3 unlocked and running vehicles in Saskatoon
Police are now once again are pleading with the public to play a more active role in combating the crime.
“My worst fear personally is to see what we saw in 2014 where we had two individuals killed on 22nd Street,” Chevli said.
On May 5, 2014, two teens were killed and a third severely injured after a drunk driver who was behind the wheel of a stolen truck evaded police.
The concern is, it could only be a matter of time before something just as catastrophic happens again – not only are auto thefts on rise, police evade incidents are as well.