Photo by Vince Fedoroff
OFFICER STABBED, SUSPECT ARRESTED – RCMP vehicles are seen Wednesday afternoon at this Tarahne Way area apartment complex in the Whistle Bend subdivision. An RCMP officer was stabbed, but was spared serious injury due to a protective vest. After a heavy police response to the incident and prolonged negotiations, a suspect was taken into custody.
A man will face charges of attempted murder and the weapon-involved assault of a Whitehorse RCMP officer after Wednesday’s lengthy standoff in Whistle Bend.
Revised - A man will face charges of attempted murder and the weapon-involved assault of a Whitehorse RCMP officer after Wednesday’s lengthy standoff in Whistle Bend.
The incident was resolved at approximately 4:25 p.m., when the man was taken into custody.
The officer was injured during the situation, and was treated and released. No members of the public were injured, police said Thursday afternoon, the same day the suspect appeared in court.
His name will be released when the charges are sworn.
Police originally attended the apartment building for a call related to a well-being check.
“However, the officers who attended were confronted with a bladed weapon upon interacting with the person involved, and one of the officers received injuries to their chest from this weapon,” police said in a statement.
Over the following 17 hours, General Duty officers, the M Division Crisis Negotiator Team, the M Division Critical Incident Program resources, the M Division Emergency Response Team, including assistance from the E Division (B.C.) North District Emergency Response Team, Yukon Emergency Medical Services, Whitehorse Fire and Protective Services, and other community resources dealt with the armed, barricaded suspect “who presented a significant safety risk to himself, the police, and others,” police said.
“This was a high-risk situation for all people involved, including the police officers,” said Insp. Lindsay Ellis, the officer in charge of the Whitehorse RCMP detachment.
“We attend a variety of different calls every day, including well-being checks that may include requests to physically confirm the well-being of a loved one who is not responding or unreachable,” she said.
“Our response to calls for service is approached with the concern for individual and public safety, training, and caution.”
“Police thank the public for co-operation while officers were on scene, especially those we were temporarily displaced while police were engaged in the area, and those who shared safety messages online from the Yukon RCMP Facebook page,” the statement said.
“The identity of the injured police officer will not be released in order to protect their privacy.”
Weapons-involved assaults of RCMP officers have historically been a rare occurence in the Yukon.
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Comments (5)
Up 8 Down 3
bonanzajoe on Apr 22, 2022 at 5:48 pm
Melba: "I'm glad nobody was seriously hurt, including the person being charged". Somehow, my empathy genes don't kick in for the perp.
Up 26 Down 1
melba on Apr 22, 2022 at 3:05 pm
A well being check. Good thing they didn't send a social worker. Getting stabbed in the chest is something they might not be prepared for.
This incident shows the other side of the story, ie; what happens when well being checkers do not take weapons and violent erratic behaviour very seriously. I'm glad nobody was seriously hurt, including the person being charged with attempted murder. All the same, I can't help but think trying to kill someone is ever called for, whether you are having a bad day, are drunk or on drugs, are mentally ill, or not. This is a person who belongs somewhere secure.
Up 38 Down 12
Josey Wales on Apr 22, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Is the perp out yet, bonanzajoe asks?
That, unfortunately, would depend on culture, pigment of skin, gender...as identified with at the moment of arrest.
I say so very unfortunate, as all those dilutions of accountabilities are Liberal policies we must live and also so very unfortunately, also die by at a very disturbing volume.
But shhhh...let us keep enabling, great way to build a legal empire with our blood and bones.
Glad the member is okay, but this same scenario would be deemed assault with a weapon if piercing the chest of a non member of LEO?
Up 39 Down 7
bonanzajoe on Apr 21, 2022 at 8:34 pm
So, is the perp back on the street yet?
Up 47 Down 4
Rod on Apr 21, 2022 at 7:40 pm
All that work by the RCMP and the injuries sustained and this P.O.S will probably get 6 months and be back on the street. Make an example of him..bring down the hammer and maybe criminals will realize then, that there will be serious consequences.