The full details of a harrowing river rescue in Saskatoon a week ago emerged in provincial court this week when 25-year-old Curtis McKenzie pleaded guilty to mischief and assaulting a police officer.

McKenzie wore a large gauze bandage over his nose during his court appearances. It was only during sentencing, however, that it came out that he'd cut off his nose while serving a federal prison sentence.

McKenzie also admitted that he was so high on crystal methamphetamine that he had no memory of swimming across the South Saskatchewan River, assaulting his rescuers and then causing $900 damage to a detention cell.

It began last Thursday when police and fire crews were called to the river with reports of a man swimming across it, near the 25th Street Bridge. He was yelling "F--k the police" as he swam, said prosecutor Frank Impey.

"He's causing quite a disturbance," he said.

Firefighters in a rescue boat first tried to pull the man out, but he swam away or went underwater when they approached. They went back to shore and enlisted two police officers to help.

The man continued to resist efforts to be pulled from the water. At one point, Impey said McKenzie managed to brace his legs against the boat and almost dragged one of the officers into the water.

Eventually, they were able hold McKenzie in place and then slowly move the boat back to shore.

Impey said McKenzie had to be cuffed and then carried from the shore to a police cruiser. He remained combative at the police station, tearing off a sprinkler head and flooding his cell.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assaulting a police officer and mischief. He was on statutory release for a federal sentence for aggravated assault, so he'll return to prison to serve his five-month sentence.

"During sentencing, it was noted by the judge that he had his nose covered up. However, it was indicated to the court that it was not because of injuries caused by police officers," Impey said.

"It was a disfigurement he did to himself while at the penitentiary. He clarified to the judge that he did, in fact, cut his own nose off."

No reason was offered.