Hunt continues for stabbing suspect

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — Police in Nova Scotia have investigated possible sightings of a suspect accused of attempting to murder a police officer by stabbing him in the neck, but were still looking for the man on Saturday.

Bridgewater police said its officers and the RCMP responded to a possible sighting of Tobias Charles Doucette in Bridgewater, N.S., on Friday afternoon.

After police arrived, a second possible sighting was received.

“Police established a perimeter around the search area and attempted to locate Doucette into the evening hours, but were unable to do so,” said Danny MacPhee, Bridgewater’s deputy chief. “Bare footprints were located in the search area, adding to the credibility of the tips.”

Police said the last time Doucette was seen, he was not wearing shoes.

Doucette was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly struck an officer in the neck with an edged weapon as police responded to a domestic violence call Monday night at a hotel in Bridgewater. He was also charged with assault on his common-law partner.

The RCMP have focused their search for the 31-year-old Cape Breton man in Conquerall Bank, N.S., where he was believed to be on Tuesday.

He was spotted by an RCMP dog and handler, but police said he escaped into nearby woods after allegedly stabbing the dog with a stick.

Bridgewater police Sgt. Matthew Bennett, who was injured in Monday’s incident, is recovering following surgery. Doucette’s partner was treated for minor injuries sustained in the same incident, while the injured police dog was reported to be in stable condition.