SASKATOON – In an attempt to flee from three unmarked police vehicles that had surrounded his Nissan Juke in a high-risk traffic stop, a man rammed two of the vehicles. Police say when the Nissan was attempting to flee, it struck one of the officers who was outside of his vehicle.
Another officer in one of the vehicles used his firearm to shoot at the tire of the Nissan Juke three times in an attempt to disable the vehicle. A 40-year-old man, Ousman Sillah, and a 43-year-old woman, Aminata Sesay, then surrendered to police and were arrested without incident. The officer who was struck sustained a minor injury, but didn't require medical treatment.
The incident unfolded about 7 p.m. on July 8 after the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) Crime Reduction team finished an investigation into cocaine trafficking in the city. Investigators observed what they believed to be was a drug transaction occur in the parking lot of a motel in the 2500 block of 22nd Street West. The person thought to be purchasing the drugs got into the suspect vehicle, a grey 2016 Nissan Juke, prior to police conducting the high-risk traffic stop.
Sillah had $80 in counterfeit cash, $400 in Canadian currency, and two cell phones on him when he was arrested, say police. He was charged with assault with a weapon, trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, and possession of counterfeit money. Sesay was charged with possession of cocaine.
The vehicle was searched and police found cash, cocaine, and cell phones inside.
A Use Of Force review will be conducted in accordance with SPS policy.
As the couple was being arrested, a 30-year-old woman, was arrested without incident from a home in the 300 block of Silverwood Road. Police executed a search warrant at that address and located nearly 10 grams of fentanyl, 57 grams of a cutting agent and 143 grams of cocaine. She was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000.
Sillah and Sesay appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court Monday.
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