A Saskatoon police officer is facing assault charges following the arrest of a 14-year-old boy.
The teen was allegedly struck in the face and pepper sprayed on May 27. He was spotted in the 1800 block of 20th Street West, where officers say he matched the description of a suspect in a different police investigation.
Police say the boy ran when the officer approached him. He was treated for soft tissue damage, then charged with resisting arrest, but released later that same day.
Const. Luke St. Onge, 26, is charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.
Police Chief Clive Weighill says the police service has internal checks and balances to deal with incidents like this one. "He was, as was recommended by Saskatchewan prosecutions, he was charged yesterday with both criminal offenses, and he was suspended from duty, with pay, for the next 30 days. We'll work our way through the legal process, he may be suspended further on from that as well."
St. Onge is to appear in Saskatoon provincial court Nov. 14.
