Saskatoon

Trial witnesses say Michael Arcand was robot-like and 'paranoid' during tense downtown police standoff

Arcand is facing an attempted murder charge and weapons charges stemming from a brief but tense downtown standoff with Saskatoon police officers a year and a half ago.

Arcand was involved in a brief but intense altercation with Saskatoon police officers in 2017

Police allege that Michael Arcand shot at a sergeant using a homemade shotgun. (CBC)

An Edmonton man described by witnesses as both robot-like and "paranoid" is on trial in Saskatoon for allegedly trying to murder a police officer during a tense downtown standoff.

Michael Arcand, 35, is facing one count of attempting to murder a police officer, one count of firing a weapon with the intent to wound, and one count of recklessly firing a weapon, along with more minor weapons offences.

It all stems from a late summer day in September 2017, when Arcand was surrounded by several Saskatoon police officers on Fourth Avenue South, in front of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) building.

A video shot by a civilian and Crown witness from across the street was shown in the Court of Queen's Bench courtroom in Saskatoon Wednesday.

It showed Arcand standing by the rear bumper of a parked truck and holding what appeared to be a homemade pipe gun with both hands as he was surrounded by officers.

One officer fired a beanbag from a bright orange shotgun twice at Arcand.

'He didn't flinch' 

Another witness, Carol Parenteau, was watching with her colleagues from the bank across the street, where she worked as a bank officer.

She told the court the beanbag shotgun was fired after Arcand pumped his pipe gun three times during the standoff.

"He didn't flinch," she said of the beanbag shot. "There was no movement out of him."

When he got Tasered, no emotion. It was just like a robot. Nothing.- Witness  Karen Burkosky

​Arcand's weapon came apart at one point, said Parenteau.

"When he pumped it and it came apart, it almost kind of looked like some kind of homemade gun," she said. 

Defence attorney Brent Little later confirmed it was a pipe gun.

'Just like a robot'

Parenteau's co-worker Karen Burkosky, a teller at the bank, also testified Wednesday.

She echoed Parenteau when describing Arcand's demeanour that day.

Burkosky said that after shots were fired by the truck, Arcand ran across Fourth Avenue S., toward the front window of the bank, with the homemade shotgun still in his arms.

Arcand was Tasered as he ran down the street, she said. 

"When he got Tasered, no emotion. It was just like a robot. Nothing."

Const. Michael Armbruster was much closer to Arcand that day and offered a different description.

Testifying Wednesday, Armbruster said that during the standoff — and before Arcand was shot — Arcand made growling and snarling noises.

"He appeared very paranoid," said Armbruster.

'Trying to shoot me'

Sgt. Grant Linklater was the final witness Wednesday.

He said he didn't initially think Arcand's weapon was anything more than a pipe, but was worried that Arcand could still cause serious injury. Linklater said he fired his Taser at Arcand and it merely caused Arcand to flinch.

After Linklater shot his Taser a second time, he heard a "bang" and saw a small puff of smoke come from the end of the pipe gun.

"What I observed was him trying to shoot me with his gun," Linklater testified. 

Linklater said he was not wounded but had checked his clothes for holes to make sure. Arcand then took off down the street, he said. 

Testimony on weapon expected

Court heard that Arcand rounded the corner onto 20th Street E., where he was eventually shot in the shoulder and apprehended.

The judge-alone trial, which began Monday, continues Wednesday afternoon.

A Crown witness is expected to testify Thursday about the pipe gun.

Five 12-guage shotgun shells were found on Arcand's seized clothing, according to the agreed statement of facts.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story identified the Saskatoon police constable who testified Wednesday as Const. Cole Miklautsch. In fact, it was Const. Michael Armbruster.
    Jan 30, 2019 3:11 PM CT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Guy Quenneville

Reporter at CBC Ottawa

Guy Quenneville is a reporter at CBC Ottawa born and raised in Cornwall, Ont. He can be reached at guy.quenneville@cbc.ca