Police in Bridgewater, N.S., have evacuated homes as their search for a man accused of stabbing a police officer continues Tuesday.
On Tuesday evening, the RCMP tweeted it was moving some residents out of the neighbourhood where Bridgewater police and the RCMP have been searching for Tobias Charles Doucette.
The Mounties have warned that Doucette is believed to be armed with a knife and that a police dog had been stabbed as officers were attempting to apprehend their suspect.
Doucette has been charged with attempted murder and assault. A warrant has been issued for his arrest at the Bridgewater Justice Centre.
The incident began at approximately 11 p.m. on Monday when police say officers responded to a domestic violence complaint at the Bridgewater Hotel on High Street in Bridgewater, a town 104 kilometres southwest of Halifax.
Once inside, the man allegedly attacked police with an “edged weapon,” striking an officer in the neck.
The man immediately fled the area on foot, according to police.
A woman, who police have identified as Doucette’s common-law partner, received minor injuries before officers arrived received treatment and was released from hospital, police say.
The officer underwent surgery as a result of their injuries.
Doucette is described six-feet, two-inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes and is wearing black shorts but no shirt or shoes.
The weapon has not been recovered, and in an emergency alert issued at 6:30 a.m., police say he was last seen in the wooded areas and backyards near the south edge of the town “four hours ago.”
Bridgewater police and RCMP have been actively searching for the man and have set up a perimeter.
A police service dog is at the scene as well as a helicopter from the Department of Natural Resources.
Police are asking residents to remain in their homes and call the police if they see or hear anything suspicious.