A 34-year-old man accused of shooting at Saskatoon police officers downtown last month appeared in court Wednesday, limping into the prisoner’s box with a sling around his left arm.
Michael Andrew Arcand was in noticeable pain during his morning appearance at Saskatoon Provincial Court — so much so the judge asked him to sit down because it looked like it was too painful for Arcand to stand up.
Arcand is charged with attempted murder and six gun-related offences, including possessing a homemade shotgun, possessing a firearm without a license, manufacturing a firearm and using a firearm while committing an indictable offence.
He allegedly fired at police shortly after 3 p.m. Sept. 27 after officers responded to reports of a man breaking a vehicle’s windows on the 200 block of Fourth Avenue South.
Officers attempted unsuccessfully to take down Arcand using Tasers and beanbag rounds and were unable to apprehend him before he fired at officers with a homemade gun, according to police. He was eventually shot by police while running from officers toward 20th Street.
He was hit in the shoulder and bit by a police dog, police said.
The victim in Arcand's attempted murder charge is Sgt. Grant Linklater, CTV News has learned. No officers were injured in the shooting.
According to the Parole Board of Canada, Arcand served time in a federal prison and was released in 2011. He was also convicted of assault in Alberta this year and was sentenced to 45 days time served.
He is now in the custody of provincial corrections. He was in hospital during his first scheduled court appearance last week and was unable to attend.
He opted Wednesday to receive legal aid for his bail hearing, which is scheduled for Friday. He will remain in custody at least until the hearing.
