Search for man accused of assault, stabbing now into 3rd day

The search for a 31-year-old Cape Breton man who allegedly assaulted his common-law spouse and then stabbed a police officer is nowinto its third day.

Tobias Charles Doucetteisfacing charges of attempted murderrelating to the domestic assault and for stabbing a member of the Bridgewater Police Service.

Several homes in the area wereevacuated on Tuesday nightas police searched the area. TheRCMP say they will be in touch with each household when it is safe for them to go back to their home.

Officers were called to a domestic violence complaintat the Bridgewater Hotel on Monday around 11 p.m. Police say Doucette attacked a police officer, stabbing him in the neck before fleeing the scene.

Police said Thursday that Sgt. Matthew Bennett is in stable condition and is recovering in hospital.

Doucettewas seen next around 1 p.m. in the LaHave River.TheBridgewater Police Service said officers tried to arrest him, but he stabbed a police dog and fled into the woods off Highway 331 in Conquerall Bank, N.S.

RCMP said on Wednesday thatcharges will also be laid in relation to that incident.

Bridgewater Police, RCMP and the Department of National Defence have been involved in the search.

"We're relieved that additional resources have come in from the RCMP and the military, a little relieved to know there's a specific search area, but we're still concerned," BridgewaterMayor David Mitchell told CBC'sInformation Morningon Thursday.

He said that search area is now outside the town itself.

"It's a bit of a shock," he said. "You never think these things are going to happen here."

Mitchell said he hopes the search for Doucette will end peacefully.

"I can't put myself in the head spacethatTobias Doucetteis in," he said. "He's probably scared and I just hope that he's able to come to the sense that he needs to turn himself in, so it's peaceful."

Doucetteis described by police as six-foot-two,weighing220 pounds,with brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with any information on his whereaboutsis asked to contact the RCMP at 1-800-803-7267.