Edmonton

Police surround porta-potty to capture suspect

Two young men are in police custody after a hospital security guard was shot in the face with what is believed to be a flare gun.

Two young men are in police custody after a hospital security guard was shot in the face with what is believed to be a flare gun.

The incident happened at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital, shortly before 9:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Police say a security guard approached two men who were hanging around the lobby. As the guard was looking over their identification, police say one of the men shot him in the face with a projectile weapon.

The two men ran off in different directions.

Police spokesperson Wes Bellmore says officers cornered one suspect hiding in a porta-potty at a nearby construction site.

"Police put a cruiser against the door of the porta-potty, sprayed in an amount of pepper spray just to make sure that the suspect inside the potty was at a distinct disadvantage when he came out...because he was thought to be armed at that time. After a few minutes, the door was released and he kicked the door open, threw a knife aside, and was then arrested."

The second suspect tried to escape on a bus, but police tracked him down.

The security guard's facial injuries are not life threatening.

Charges against two men, aged 18 and 20, are pending.