An allegedly drunken car thief found himself stuck in a snowbank early Friday morning — and is facing a slew of charges in a Saskatoon court later in the day.

Police said they encountered the man driving erratically along Avenue W on the west side of town at around 1:20 a.m. CST.

They followed the vehicle into an alley where it became stuck in a snowbank.

The driver tried to get away, rocking the car back and forth, but it didn't work, police said.

Officers repeatedly asked the driver to get out the car, but he refused, at one point waving a hunting knife out the window.

Eventually, an officer got close enough to the car to pepper spray the interior. That got the male driver and a female passenger out of the vehicle.

A man, 27, has been charged with possession of a stolen car, impaired driving, refusing to provide a breath sample, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and breach of probation.

He was expected to make his first appearance in provincial court later in the day.

A woman, 24, was charged with possession of a stolen car and was released with a future court date.