A 35-year-old man is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after a police officer was stabbed on Saint John’s west side.
The accused is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault on Const. Jonathan Grenier, a 7.5-year member of the force.
He is also charged with assault with a weapon on another person, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000, and resisting arrest.
Officers were called to a disturbance at Canadian Tire on Fairville Boulevard around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
It was reported to police that a man armed with a knife was threatening staff and causing damage inside the store.
Staff Sgt. Sean Rocca said as Grenier entered the store, the suspect allegedly stabbed him with a knife.
“Other officers did intervene at the time of the assault and took the suspect into custody,” Rocca told reporters in an update on Thursday.
Rocca said two officers were already in the store when Grenier arrived at the scene.
The police spokesperson said the injured officer remained in the hospital as of Thursday afternoon.
“He is in stable condition and did sustain non-life-threatening injuries,” said Rocca.
Several people were inside the store at the time of the incident, but police said no other physical injuries were reported.
As many as 10 Saint John police vehicles remained on the scene as of 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police had cordoned off more than half of the parking lot as they conducted their investigation.
Rocca said it is not common for a police officer in Saint John to be injured in the line of duty.
“Anecdotally, I can say that I’m in my 21st year and I can’t recall an officer being stabbed in the line of duty,” he said.
