Two men have been charged with attempted murder in connection to a weekend stabbing in Sarnia, police say. In an update issued Monday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) said a 20-year-old man was located and arrested just before 12 noon, Saturday, in relation to a stabbing that occurred around 8 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Devine […]
Two men have been charged with attempted murder in connection to a weekend stabbing in Sarnia, police say.
In an update issued Monday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) said a 20-year-old man was located and arrested just before 12 noon, Saturday, in relation to a stabbing that occurred around 8 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Devine Street.
The accused faces charges of: attempt to commit murder; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; failure to comply with probation (four counts); and failure to comply with a release order.
Police had previously issued an arrest warrant for a second male party, age 22, charged with attempted murder. In a social media post late Monday, Sarnia Police said the second suspect had been arrested.
“The SPS is aware that members of the public were in the vicinity of this incident when it occurred,” police stated, noting that a Sarnia Transit bus unloaded in area at the time of the stabbing, near the intersection of Westbury Court and Devine Street.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact the SPS Criminal Investigations Division at 519-344-8861.
The incident occurred Jan. 12, when officers responded around 8 p.m. to a call of a man lying on the ground outside of an apartment building in the 800 block of Devine Street (between Indian Rd. and Lilian St.), police stated.
“Police and ambulance located the conscious male victim who was bleeding from the back of his neck, but had difficulty moving parts of his body,” police said, adding that investigation revealed the victim had been riding his bicycle on Davis Street, when he encountered two other males.
“A verbal interaction between the victim and the two males occurred,” police stated. “The encounter escalated into a physical confrontation during which one of the male suspects stabbed the victim in the back of the neck.”
The two suspects fled from the area on foot.
“Given the severity of the injuries, the Sarnia Police Service immediately deployed significant resources in response this investigation,” police said Monday. “This included officers from the Criminal Investigation Division, Operations Division (front line patrol), Street Crime Unit, Emergency Response Unit, and our Investigative Analyst.
“Over the course of the weekend, multiple investigative leads were explored, and warrants executed with the assistance of SPS Emergency Response Team.”
Police say a preliminary medical examination of the victim indicated he sustained a serious injury to his spinal cord. He was taken to Bluewater Health before being transported to Victoria hospital in London for specialized trauma care.
“The victim is still undergoing emergency medical care and is believed to have potentially suffered permanent life-altering injuries,” police said.
“Our community should be encouraged to know that the Sarnia Police Service takes these matters very seriously. Since the initial report, multiple teams of officers have worked tirelessly and cooperatively to bring this urgent matter successful before the courts,” Chief Derek Davis said in a news release. “We thank all members of the public who provided assistance, and as this investigation continues, we ask anyone with additional information to please come forward.”
