WATCH: Man charged with attempted murder after officer stabbed above eye

A 39-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a Kelowna RCMP officer above his eye.

Just before midnight on Saturday, officers received an unwanted persons call about some people camped on private property on Ellis Street.

About 30 minutes later, an officer arrived and started talking to Richard McCrea. One minute later, Insp. Adam MacIntosh said the officer called for backup. It’s alleged McCrea pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer above the eye.

The officer, MacIntosh said, tried to get control of the situation and fired at least one shot, but did not hit his attacker.

McCrea then started to harm himself with the knife before five other officers arrived and arrested him. Two citizens came to help the officer during the attack.

“Police work carries inherent risk, and this weekend is a clear example,” MacIntosh said while speaking to the media Monday. “This officer was faced with a fight for their life and both their training and resilience prevailed in that alley Sunday morning.”

The officer and McCrea were taken to hospital. The officer was treated for serious injuries and has since been released and is recovering at home.

McCrea was treated for self-inflicted wounds to his neck and was committed under the Mental Health Act. He’s charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault of an officer, attempting to disarm an officer, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and resist arrest.

Macintosh said officers continue to deal with a growing number of people who have complex needs relating to mental health, trauma, and addictions.

“They become a police issue, in part, due to a lack of services that exist within the community and within the province to support individuals,” he said, noting efforts remain ongoing to limit police intervention in health matters to “leave the police to deal with police work.”

The investigation is ongoing. McCrea’s next court appearance is on April 11.