Stabbed Saint John police officer released from hospital

A Saint John police officer who was stabbed while responding to a disturbance at the Canadian Tire on the city's west side Wednesday night has been released from the hospital.

Const. Jonathan Grenier, of the Saint John Police Force, remains off duty, recovering from non-life-threatening injuries, according to an update issued Friday by Staff Sgt. Sean Rocca.

A number of officers responded to reports of a man armed with a knife threatening staff and causing damage inside the Canadian Tire on Fairville Boulevard shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Rocca told reporters on Thursday.

Grenier was allegedly stabbed with a knife as he entered the store. A number of citizens were inside at the time, as well as two other officers, Rocca said.

Corey James Clarke, 35, has been charged with the attempted murder of Grenier and aggravated assault of the officer, who has been with the force since 2016.

Clarke is also charged with assaulting a woman with a knife, possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace, mischief under $5,000 for wilfully damaging glass display cases at Canadian Tire, and resisting two officers in the execution of their duty in connection with the incident.

In addition, Clarke is facing charges of assault, threats in the Kingston area and failing to attend court in 2017 and 2018. 

He remains remanded in custody and is scheduled to return to provincial court Monday morning for a bail hearing.

Clarke told the court Thursday he intends to represent himself and does not need to be assessed for any mental health issues.

"The lawyer … was trying to tell me that I had to go to Campbellton and be thrown underneath science things so that they could look at my brain, which doesn't need to be done," he said.

"There's no medical issues here, brother," he told Judge Andrew LeMesurier. He did, however, allege he sustained a concussion from police.

Attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.