Man facing several charges claims to be Michelangelo

Michelangelo, the famous Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet who died in 1564, may actually be alive and in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre.

Or perhaps it’s Michelangelo the famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, who by all accounts is still alive and was living in the sewers under Manhattan.

A man who appeared in Lethbridge provincial court Tuesday didn’t look like either of the famous Michelangelos, although he did have curly, black hair like the Renaissance painter. But he claims to be one of them, or someone else named Michelangelo.

According to the docket, the man who appeared in court by closed-circuit TV from the Calgary Remand Centre, is actually Georgy Soshalskiy. He faces charges of assaulting a peace officer, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, resisting a peace officer, carrying a concealed weapon, mischief causing damage, impaired driving and dangerous driving.

Duty counsel represented the accused during his brief court hearing, and told the judge although CRC staff identify the accused by the name Soshalskiy, the accused gave him a different name.

When the Crown prosecutor said the accused’s fingerprints identify him as Soshalskiy, the accused denied it.

“I’m not George,” he yelled. “I have my own fingerprints. I’m Michelangelo.”

The Crown pointed out that the accused is currently in custody on a 30-day psychiatric order. The matter returns to court Thursday. Follow @DelonHerald on Twitter