Man charged after downtown gunfight with police

Police have charged a man suspected of  shooting at police in downtown Saskatoon.

Michael Andrew Arcand, 34, is charged with attempted murder in connection to Wednesday’s events.

He allegedly fired a homemade shotgun at officers who were called to the 200 block of 4th Avenue over a report of a man trying to break into a vehicle.

Police said Arcand was found at the scene carrying what appeared to be a long metal pipe.

Officers tried to use a taser when Arcand reportedly refused to obey police instructions.

Police said the taser failed to subdue Arcand, causing officers to switch to beanbag rounds, which also failed.

Arcand then allegedly fired a shot at officers, making it apparent the metal pipe he was carrying was some sort of firearm.

Police continued firing beanbags as Arcand allegedly took off on foot towards 20th Street, at which point officers switched to live rounds, shooting Arcand and then arresting him with the help of a police dog.

Along with the attempted murder charge, Arcand also faces charges of: use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, carrying a homemade shotgun without reasonable precaution for the safety of other persons, possession of a homemade shotgun, possession of a firearm without a license and manufacturing a firearm.

He is due to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court Oct. 11. Police reported Monday that Arcand remained in hospital receiving treatment for his wounds, which were previously reported as a dog bite and a gunshot wound to the area around his shoulder.