Saskatoon man tries to avoid arrest, winds up in hospital

A man who jumped off an apartment balcony in hopes of avoiding arrest Tuesday evening was taken to hospital — and also charged with a variety of offences.

According to the Saskatoon Police Service, officers responded to a weapons call at about 7 p.m., at an apartment on Avenue P South in the West Industrial neighbourhood. The caller said a man was in a suite threatening a woman with a shotgun.

Officers removed from the apartment two women who weren’t hurt, but the suspect refused to leave the suite. He eventually jumped off the balcony while trying to escape.

The 47-year-old man was arrested and transported to hospital by paramedics with serious injuries caused by the fall. Officers found an imitation gun in the apartment.

The man is charged with assault with a weapon, using a firearm to commit an offence, possession of a dangerous weapon, uttering threats to cause death, being unlawfully in a dwelling, and breach of an undertaking. He also had eight outstanding warrants for his arrest.