Keremeos RCMP officer stabbed while making arrest drives himself, suspect to hospital

A Keremeos RCMP officer had to chase after a man undergoing mental health crisis, got stabbed in the process allegedly, and then arrested the suspect before any back-up could arrive.

It was 2 a.m. on April 4 when the officer responded to a disturbance, according a Keremeos RCMP media release.

A woman reported that a man, who was known to her, was outside of her home screaming for help while suffering a mental health crisis.

The officer arrived and spoke with the woman. Then the man showed up and made comments about self-harm before fleeing into the home.

After a pursuit, the officer located the man and began trying to de-escalate the situation.

However, the man stabbed the officer, RCMP said.

The officer was seriously injured but still able to overpower the man and take him into custody. Then the officer drove himself and the man to the local hospital where he was met by backup officers.

READ MORE: 'Horrifying': Keremeos village office still closed after attack by man armed with sledgehammer, knife

The injury was described as a serious but non-life-threatening stab wound and the officer has been released from hospital.

“He is, and will continue to be supported by the RCMP,” the release said.

The man who stabbed the officer is being held at the hospital under the Mental Health Act and is receiving medical care.

Police say he is facing potential charges which include assault with a weapon.

“It is important to me that the public understand the risks our officers take every day in dealing with all kinds of people, and the elevated risk that is associated in dealing with those who are suffering mental health crisis,” officer-in-charge of the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP Supt. Brian Hunter said in the release.

“In this case, the man is now receiving the help he so requires, and we will allow the court to determine how best we move forward. This could have been a very different result for both the officer and this man, had this officer not had the will to survive, and fight through injury to get himself and the accused to care.”

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