A tense police standoff in the city’s northwest Friday morning has left one man charged with a slew of offences.

Around 2:00 a.m., police responded to a call to check on the welfare of a man in the 7500 block of 34th Avenue N.W.

Duty Inspector Paul Stacey said they spotted a vehicle matching the description of the man’s vehicle driving away from the scene and proceeded to attempt a traffic stop.

“As soon as we turned on our emergency lights and emergency equipment the man took off from us,” Stacey said. “HAWCS picked up the vehicle, followed it for a time until it came back to almost the original address that we were called to.”

Stacey said the shooter fired two non-targeted shots, one in the air and the other towards the ground.

“I don’t know what his intent was or why the shots were fired,” Stacey said. “Only he really knows that but anytime that you’re dealing with an individual when they’re actually shooting off rounds in their gun, it can be quite tense.”

The ordeal eventually ended peacefully at 6:30 a.m. after four hours of tense negotiating.

Lee Wesley Hollinger of Calgary faces eight charges, including six firearms-related charges, failing to stop for police and possession of body armour.

He will appear in court Monday.