Man accused of stabbing officer asking for mental health assessment

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A Garnett Settlement man accused of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a Saint John police officer last week got two weeks to consider a request for a mental health assessment.

Corey James Clarke, 35, of Route 825 in Garnett Settlement, was due for a bail hearing Monday morning in Saint John provincial court, but was given two weeks to review his options. Clarke was charged with six offences, including attempting to kill Const. Jonathan Grenier by stabbing, after police say they responded to a report of a disturbance Wednesday at a Canadian Tire and an officer was allegedly stabbed, taken to the hospital and later released.

On Monday, Clarke reserved his right to the bail hearing and asked for a 30-day mental health assessment for fitness to stand trial and whether he could be found not criminally responsible (NCR) through his lawyer, Matthew Oliver.

When asked by Judge Andrew Palmer, Oliver said he didn’t have trouble communicating with his client. Clarke, who was present in the courtroom, answered in the affirmative when Palmer asked him if he understood what was going on.

Crown prosecutor Jill Knee noted that the bar for a fitness test might not have been met, and said a NCR assessment could imply an admission that the act occurred. Oliver said he hadn’t had a chance to review the Crown’s evidence, and Palmer set the matter over to March 12 to give the defence time to do so.

Clarke’s case was adjourned to March 11 for choice of court and plea. He also faces charges of aggravated assault by wounding Grenier, assault with a knife on a second person, Melissa Stanton, possession of a knife for a purpose contrary to the public peace, resisting officers and damage to display cases at Canadian Tire.

Police say they responded at just after 8 p.m. Wednesday to reports of an armed man “threatening staff and causing damage” at the Fairville Boulevard Canadian Tire store, Staff Sgt. Sean Rocca told reporters Thursday. When police arrived, the man allegedly stabbed an officer with a knife, before being apprehended by other officers without further injury, Rocca said. The officer was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released on Friday, according to an update from Rocca.

During his first appearance Thursday, Clarke said he had received a concussion during the arrest and was told to consult the jail nurse after requesting treatment.

Clarke is also charged regarding assault and threat charges dated to 2017 in Kingston, N.B., and failing to show up to his trial in December 2018, court heard. Those charges were also adjourned.