21+ charges for man accused of firing at Saskatoon police during chase

Watch above: A Saskatoon man is facing a whole slew of charges following a weekend pursuit and shootout with police. Joel Senick was in court Monday where the man told a judge he wanted to plead guilty without a lawyer.

SASKATOON – A man accused of firing at Saskatoon police officers during a chase on the weekend has made his first court appearance. Bradley Derek Vestby is facing 21 charges in connection with the chase and more may be laid.

Vestby, 35, is accused of leading police on a chase Saturday afternoon that started on the east side of the city. An officer attempted to stop a car in the area of 8th Street and Goodwin Avenue. The driver refused to stop and began to drive erratically.

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The car was then spotted a short time later on the west side, driving in the oncoming lanes of 33rd Street. The chase ended when two police cruisers rammed the car at the intersection of 22nd Street and 2nd Avenue north.

Just before that happened, Vestby is alleged to have pointed a firearm and shot at pursuing officers. Police shot back, firing roughly 10 to 12 shots at two different locations.

The gun Vestby is alleged to have fired was a Marksman 2004 replica air pistol. Investigators also recovered stolen property in the car.

READ MORE: Man facing 28 charges after firing at Saskatoon police during chase

Among the 21 charges Vestby is facing are five counts of pointing a firearm, five counts of assault with a weapon on a police officer, dangerous driving, evading police, threats to cause death and possession of meth.

At the time of his arrest, Vestby was wanted on seven counts of using a stolen credit card, four counts of meth possession and being unlawfully in a dwelling.

Police officials say the break and enter unit is investigating and more charges may be laid.

Vestby appeared twice in Saskatoon provincial court on Monday. At first, he refused to stand up or speak to the judge. When he was brought back a short time later, Vestby said he wished to plead guilty to all charges against him.

He has reportedly spoken to legal counsel and will appear in court again Tuesday morning.

With files from Thomas Piller