Brian Knight stands outside the courthouse in Stettler Thursday with his wife. (CBC)

An Alberta farmer charged with seven criminal offences after he apparently chased and shot an alleged thief came close to tears as supporters applauded him outside a rural courthouse Thursday.

Brian Knight, 38, who lives on a rural property in Tees, northeast of Red Deer, was charged with seven offences last month, including assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and discharging a firearm.

A Stettler courtroom was packed with about 100 friends, neighbours, relatives and strangers who turned out to show support.

Knight, dressed in a suit, sat quietly in the centre of the front row. The clerk read the seven charges, asking Knight each time whether he understood, to which he quietly replied yes.

When he left the courthouse with his wife and lawyer, Knight's supporters, who had been waiting outside, erupted in applause. Knight came close to tears.

His lawyer, Jim Dixon, said the Knights were overwhelmed by the support. He said if Knight were being tried in the court of public opinion, the verdict would be clear.

Many of his supporters told CBC News they are frustrated with the state of policing in their community, and wonder whether it's time to drop the RCMP in favour of a provincial police force or even start electing local sheriffs.

Knight's supporters have started a trust fund to pay for his legal fees. He is scheduled to return to court at the end of May.

Dispute over stolen ATV

The incident on March 26 began on the farmer's rural property in Tees in central Alberta. (CBC)The incident began when Knight spotted three men in his farmyard early in the morning of March 26, according to Bashaw RCMP. Two of the men fled in their own truck while a third sped off on Knight's all-terrain vehicle.

Knight drove after the man on the ATV, rammed his car into it, and then pulled out a shotgun and fired two rounds at the fleeing man, who was struck, but kept on running, police said.

But the chase wasn't over just yet. Knight called friends and relatives to help him with his search, police said. The wounded man was intercepted, then briefly escaped in a stolen truck, but lost control of the vehicle and was caught a second time.

Police were then called in to help.

The wounded man, 30, was flown to hospital by air ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released on a promise to appear for allegedly stealing an ATV and a truck.