26-year-old Yorkton man is facing 23 charges after he attempted to bite and take an RCMP officer’s gun following a traffic stop in southeastern Saskatchewan Thursday afternoon.

According to a news release, around 4:30 p.m. an RCMP officer conducting patrols on Highway 9 near Carlyle, Sask. stopped a speeding vehicle. The officer determined through tests the driver had consumed cannabis and cocaine before getting behind the wheel.

RCMP said the man then began to act erratically, prompting the officer to call for backup. RCMP say the driver attempted to flee on foot and then tried to bite and disarm one officers while being arrested. No one was seriously injured, RCMP added.

According to RCMP, officers then found a loaded handgun, 3D-printed semi-automatic rifle, approximately 133 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 36 grams of psilocybin, around 23 grams of illicit cannabis, 50 grams of cannabis shatter, pocketknives and trafficking paraphernalia.

As a result, RCMP said that the 26-year-old man is facing a total of 23 charges:

• one count, disarming a police officer, Section 270.1(1), Criminal Code;
• two counts, assault police officer, Section 270(2) Criminal Code;
• two counts, resist/obstruct peace officer, Section 129A), Criminal Code;
• one count, trafficking (cocaine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
• one count, trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
• one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Cannabis Act;
• one count, operation of a conveyance while impaired by drug, Section 320.14(1)(a), Criminal Code;
• two counts, unsafe storage of a firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code;
• two counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code;
• one count, carrying a concealed weapon, Section 90(1), Criminal Code;
• one count, possession of a firearm when knowing possession is unauthorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code;
• two counts, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, Section 94(1), Criminal Code;
• two counts, unlicensed possession of a restricted/prohibited weapon with ammunition, Section 95(1), Criminal Code;
• one count, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, Section 96(1), Criminal Code; and
• three counts, weapons possession contrary to order, Section 117.10(1), Criminal Code.

Police said the man was also arrested for breaching a conditional sentence order and will appear in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday, March 10.