Grand Forks RCMP say a man is facing charges after trying to attack a community safety officer with a knife and smashing the windows on a city truck.
Sgt. Darryl Peppler said the officer approached a group at Gyro Park late Sunday afternoon who were drinking alcohol openly and asked them to put it away.
However, they became “belligerent” and one man pulled a knife and demanded the officer leave. The officer backed up, but the man continued to follow, and a few times even chased him, Peppler said.
The man then took a golf club and smashed out the windows on a city work truck and caused other damage, estimated at $5,000.
Police arrived and arrested Andre Robert Conn, 41 without incident. He’s been charged with uttering threats and mischief to property. He’s being held until a court appearance Wednesday. RCMP say more charges could be added.
“We are very relieved that no one was hurt in this attack and credit the community safety officer for his swift actions in keeping himself from being injured or worse,” Peppler said. “While attacks like this are not common, they are a reminder of the dangers that people who work in the public can face.”
Peppler said the officer, who serves both in a bylaw enforcement capacity and as a liaison to the city’s homeless/transient population, is shaken up but otherwise doing fine.
Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet been spoken to police is asked to call the detachment at 250-442-8288.