A 39-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged knife attack that left a Kelowna Mountie seriously injured.
In a news conference Monday, Insp. Adam MacIntosh, said an officer was caught in a “fight for his life” on March 26 at 11:50 p.m., when he went to a call to deal with some people who were camped on a private property in the 1000-block area of Ellis Street.
“Within a minute, dispatchers received an emergency notification from the officer’s portable radio, indicating the officer needed immediate assistance,” MacIntosh said.
“It is alleged the male produced a knife and attacked the officer resulting in the officer receiving a serious stab wound above their eye. The officer fought to gain control of the suspect while waiting for back up and, during this time, discharged their firearm.”
The suspect was not wounded when the gun went off, MacIntosh said, but he then allegedly started to harm himself with the knife.
A couple of civilians came to help the officer, and the suspect was eventually taken into custody when other officers arrived. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening, self-inflicted injuries to his neck, police said, and committed under the Mental Health Act.
The Mountie, who has eight years of experience, was also sent to hospital was serious injuries, though he has since been released and is recovering at home.
“The fact they were discharged a few hours later is miraculous,” MacIntosh said.
“Every day, our officers attend calls for service in this community, often dealing with persons who have complex issues which continue to challenge us to support an effective and appropriate response,” MacIntosh said.
“I would like to thank two citizens who came to the aid of the officer during the attack. As you know, police work carries inherent risk and this weekend is a clear example. Our officer was faced with a fight for their life and both their training and resilience prevailed in that alley Sunday morning. Our thoughts are with them and their family.”
The man has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault of a police officer, attempt to disarm a police officer, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and resisting arrest.
His next court appearance is set for April 11.