Man faces attempted murder charge after Halifax police officer stabbed

HALIFAX – A 31-year-old man faces an attempted murder charge after a Halifax police officer was stabbed in the neck and forearm.

Just before 8:30 p.m. on Friday, two police officers arrived at Metro Turning Point, a men’s shelter, on Barrington Street to arrest a man wanted for failing to appear in court on an assault with a weapon charge.

Cst. Pierre Bourdages says that the man, who was outside the facility though it is not known if he is a resident there, spotted the officers and fled on foot.

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He says that officers were pursuing the suspect when he turned and stabbed one of the officers in the neck and forearm.

The other officer was not injured. The suspect was taken into custody with a taser. Both officers assisted in arresting the man.

The injured officer, a constable who has been with the police force for six years, was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He has since been released and is expected to make a full recovery.

There was a very heavy police presence as investigators combed through the area surrounding Metro Turning Point.

A knife was recovered at the scene.

Bourdages says the incident cuts very close to home.

“We work in a very stressful environment. It is always your worst nightmare that your fellow officer of yourself will be attacked or seriously injured.”

The man is scheduled to appear in provincial court Monday and will also face charges of aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer.