Officer injured after knife was thrown…

DAWSON CREEK, BC: An officer is recovering from injuries after a knife was hurled during an incident at a local apartment building…

Police say on June 24, 2021, the Dawson Creek RCMP was dispatched to an incident involving a man under the mental health act…

Police say the complainant reported her brother was livestreaming himself while in the bathroom holding a knife, she believed that he intended to harm himself.

Officers attended the apartment complex and announced their presence while knocking on the door of the involved male’s living quarters which happened to be located on the third story of the building. The male initially ignored attempts to engage with him and soon came running out of the apartment directly at the officers with a knife in his hand, expressing his intent to have officers shoot him. When the officers did not shoot, the male threw his knife at an officer and ran back into his apartment. The officer was struck by the blade and injured, ultimately requiring that he seek medical attention during which he received stiches to close the wound.

Additional officers were brought in to contain the subject and ensure the safety of other residents in the building. Over the course of several hours, officers engaged in dialogue with the involved male, at one point speaking to him on his balcony from the balcony of an adjoining unit in the building. De-escalation steps were taken, which included engaging the original complainant in speaking to the involved male, during which he invited officers to enter his apartment and take him into custody. The involved male was soon taken into custody without further incident.

This incident highlights the dangers that police face when attending any call for service. While this situation could have ended very differently, our officers have been trained to use de-escalation techniques, particularly so when mental health is identified as being a cause for concern. The involved male will now receive needed medical treatment in a mental health facility.

The injured officer has since returned to duties and is recovering from his injuries.