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BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — Police in Nova Scotia are investigating possible sightings of a suspect accused of attempting to kill a police officer by stabbing him in the neck.
Bridgewater police say its officers and the RCMP responded to a possible sighting of Tobias Charles Doucette near Glen Allan Drive in Bridgewater, N.S., on Friday afternoon.
After police arrived, a second possible sighting was received in the area of Hollingsworth Drive.
“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, in a statement released late Friday evening.
“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 any shoes.
On Saturday night, they reported another possible sighting — this time in Lunenburg County. RCMP urged people in the area of Conquerall Mills Road and Highway 3 to stay indoors and keep their doors locked.
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, N.S. He was also charged with assault on his common-law partner.
The RCMP have focused their search for the 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 say he escaped into nearby woods after allegedly stabbing the dog with a stick.
After going several days without finding any trace of him, police decided to direct their search resources based on the strength of tips received on Doucette’s potential whereabouts.
Wilbert Marshall, the chief of Potlotek First Nation where Doucette is from, pleaded on Thursday for the 31-year-old to turn himself in to the authorities.
“Please surrender yourself. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I promise that,” Marshall told reporters during a news conference alongside the RCMP.
Bridgewater police Sgt. Matthew Bennett, who was injured in Monday’s incident, is recovering following surgery.
Doucette’s common-law partner was treated for minor injuries sustained in the same incident, while the injured police dog was reported to be in stable condition.
Police are asking anyone who has information Doucette’s whereabouts to call their local police agency immediately and reminding the public not to approach him.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2020.
The Canadian Press