A 44-year-old man has been charged following a violent confrontation in downtown Vancouver that left two police officers in hospital.
Authorities said the patrol officers were sitting in a parked cruiser on Granville Street early Monday morning when they were physically confronted by a large man in an "agitated state."
A struggle ensued, and one officer suffered a compound fracture in her leg, meaning a broken bone pierced her skin. She was later forced to undergo emergency surgery.
"It will be a long road to recovery," police spokesman Sgt. Jason Robillard told reporters Wednesday.
The other officer suffered several sprained fingers.
Police were eventually able to subdue the suspect, but it was a challenge. Robillard described him as a physically imposing man who might have been under the influence of alcohol.
"It took five officers to arrest him," he said.
While officers regularly face dangerous situations in the line of duty, Robillard said Monday's incident was particularly troubling.
"If he's willing to confront uniformed police officers in a marked police car, who else is this man willing to confront?" he said.
The suspect, Paul Eddison of Penticton, has since been charged with aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, assaulting a police officer and uttering threats.
