Sexual Predator Shot in Encounter with Police

Police examine the scene of the shooting early Monday morning

38 year old Joseph Wendig was shot by an undercover police officer early this past Monday morning. He had approached the female undercover officer and tried to abduct her, attempting to overcome her with a rag soaked in formaldehyde. The officer, whose name has not been released, fended off his attack and then discharged her weapon, killing him. He died before making it to hospital.

Police believe that Wendig was driving a white unmarked van found in the area, which had been stolen the previous day. Inside the van was found sadomasochistic paraphernalia and medical equipment.

“There was no doubt of his intent to abduct, assault and quite likely murder our officer,” said Sgt Ewatski of the Saskatoon Police Service.

Wendig had an extensive criminal record, including a previous sexual assault. He has been a resident in Saskatoon for the past three years, since being released from a prison term served for armed robbery. Police are currently investigating to see if he may be connected to other unsolved crimes in the city.

“A predator like Wendig seldom commits only a single, isolated crime. There are at least two homicide cases from the past year and a half that we are going back to with an eye towards determining if Wendig was involved,” said Sgt. Ewatski.

See A History of Violence / A4

Five Saskatoon Men Charged in Child Porn Crackdown

Police say a different type of pedophile has emerged, and the “new-school” offenders are well-educated, under-35 professionals.

“We run across people who are teachers or doctors or work for the provincial government,” says Const. Darren Parisien of the Saskatoon Police Service. “We’ve had pretty much everything you can come across here.”

On Thursday, Saskatoon police announced new child pornography charges against several Saskatoon men.

A 26-year-old man, a 32-year-old man and a 28-year-old man have each been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. A 34-year-old man was previously charged with Internet luring and now also faces charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

“It’s not the olden days where the typical pedophile behaviour was the guy at the park who kind of creeps you out or creeps out your kid,” says Parisien. “The people we’re dealing with are professionals with good jobs or they’re going to university. Some of them have numerous degrees.”

Most of the recent child porn charges in Saskatoon stem from search warrants that were executed in January. See New Breed of Predator / A8

Power Outage Disrupts Final Exams

Questions raised about electrical standards on campus

University of Saskatchewan prepare all year for end of term exams

This time of year University students usually have it hard enough; classes are over, but final exams are just beginning. This year, however, “exam season” become a little bit more hectic for some students.

Power was disrupted at the University of Saskatchewan early in the morning this past Friday. Maintenance personnel from the University of Saskatchewan and SaskPower got an early start to their day as they struggled to restore power to Campus before the start of exams that day.

Power was restored to most of Campus by noon, but that still left many students out in the cold. University policy is to reschedule exams cancelled due to prolonged power outage, but while some students are doubtless thankful for additional time to study, many are upset about the disruption to their already hectic exam-time schedule.

“This is my last year of school, and I’ve already got a job in Alberta that starts in May. A deferred examination could create a lot of headaches,” said Terry Edwards, an Engineering student.

SaskPower official are insisting that responsibility for the power outage falls with the University of Saskatchewan’s outdated electrical grid. “Until the University lost power, we weren’t having any problems that night,” said Graham Nickelson, an engineer with SaskPower. “We did have some residential problems in the area, but we believe those were caused by failures originating on the Campus.”

University officials contend that a surge in SaskPower’s system was what caused equipment to fail on the University Campus. The cause of the problem has yet to be resolved, and an investigation is on-going. For now students are simply trying to get back to the business of writing exams, for better or for worse.

Torture victim Arar speaking in Saskatoon

Maher Arar, who was deported to Syria by the American government and tortured while in captivity, is speaking about civil liberties at a luncheon on Tuesday in Saskatoon.

Returning from a vacation in 2002, Arar was detained by American officials at an airport and, despite his Canadian passport, was deported to Syria on suspicion of links to al-Qaida. Arar returned to Canada a year later and spoke out about the torture he suffered in Syria.

After an inquiry found Arar innocent of all accusations and links to terrorist organizations, he was awarded $12.5 million in compensation by the federal government.

The Canadian Bar Association is hosting the Law Day event in Saskatoon and Regina. Arar’s speech, to be held at the Delta Bessborough Hotel, is titled Civil Liberties and National Security: Lessons of the Arar Inquiry.

Arar is requesting no audio and video recordings be taken of his speech. A question and answer session will follow his talk.

For more information, contact Brenda Hesje and the bar association’s Saskatchewan branch at 244-3781.

Winter’s Departure Long Overdue – John Gormley

Hoping that a six-week bout of ennui ends today, it's difficult to remember a gloomier springtime.

Just like when a rare Vancouver-like grey spell steals our sunshine, a winter that holds on too long saps the spirit and soul of Saskatchewan.

And lest this be the lament of yet another whiny golfer -- OK, point conceded -- it's more than that.

Ask everyone whose life rhythms revolve around that glorious April feeling of days getting longer and warmer and they'll tell you the same thing. We've been missing out on springtime. It's not spring when snow squalls, blizzards and minus temperatures are still here.

Usually by now yard cleanups are underway, a bit of playing in flower beds is in order and jackets gradually become lighter, then optional and then gone.

But not so far this year. May today spell the end of collective lethargy, sluggishness and blah. Please.