A 39 year-old male faces 31 charges after multiple gas meters were damaged in the downtown area over the weekend.
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, at approximately 11:00 p.m., police were contacted by the Regina Fire Department about a potential gas leak at a business on the 1900 block of Victoria Avenue. A caller heard a high pressure release sound and observed a male running from a gas meter. Police attended the area to provide traffic control while the leak was investigated and repaired.
At approximately 11:07 p.m., an employee of a business on the 2100 block of Victoria Avenue also called police to report the smell of natural gas in the area. Shortly after, a damaged gas meter was located on the 2000 block of Cornwall Street. Over the next several hours, multiple reports of gas leaks at different meters were received. Police and repair crews attended.
At approximately 7:40 a.m. the following day, police were dispatched to the area of 1800 block of Scarth Street for another report of a male cutting gas lines. The call came from a RFD fire inspector who was attending to large fire in a commercial building on 12th Avenue. The fire inspector observed a male cutting a gas line and attempted to stop him. At this point, the suspect male threatened him with a bladed weapon and fled the scene. Shortly after, another caller reported police he too observed a male cutting gas lines in the downtown area. When he attempted to stop the suspect, the suspect threatened him as well with a bladed weapon.
Police located the suspect, a 39 year-old male, on the corner of 11th Avenue and Hamilton Street where he was arrested at approximately 7:45 a.m. The bladed weapon was recovered nearby.
Another four damaged gas meters were accounted for, resulting in a total of twenty-six gas meters damaged. All meters have since been repaired. The male is also believed to be responsible for two acts of downtown graffiti that evening. At this stage the investigation into the commercial building fire is ongoing.
As a result of the investigation into the damaged gas lines and the assault, 39 year-old Tyrane Dale PRETTYSHIELD, is facing the following 31 charges:
- 25 X Mischief Under $5,000 [CC 430(4)];
- 3 X Mischief Over $5,000 [CC 430(3)];
- Endangering Public Lives [CC 180(1)(A)]; and
- 2 X Assault with a Weapon [CC 267(A)].
PRETTYSHIELD made his first appearance on these charges in Provincial Court today, Monday, September 25, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Regina Crime Stoppers at https://www.reginacrimestoppers.ca/ or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
