BRIDGEWATER, N.S. -- The Nova Scotia RCMP say they have arrested a man accused of trying to kill a police officer by stabbing him in the neck, bringing a six day manhunt to an end.

Police had been searching for Tobias Charles Doucette since an incident at a hotel in Bridgewater, N.S., on Monday night.

Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Lunenburg District RCMP received a call regarding an attempted stolen vehicle in Hebbville, N.S.

Margaret and Greg Bolivar made that phone call to police after seeing a truck attempting to ram the gate at the Gerhardt Truck Repair shop across the road from their home.

"He looked like he was terribly scared the way he was driving the truck. He looked like a mad man and he looked like he was afraid," said Greg Bolivar.

Margaret Bolivar said once police were called, they were very quick to arrive.

"Within three to four minutes the RCMP were here, cars, swat team, with the guns and the dogs, and I told them the best that I could as to where he went," said Margaret Bolivar.

RCMP, along with the Bridgewater Police Service, set up a perimeter to allow the RCMP Emergency Response Team to search the location for Doucette.

The Police Dog Service was able to acquire a track while dozens of officers were called into the area to provide support with containment.

Within the hour, RCMP, along with the Bridgewater Police Service had a total of 18 marked police vehicles in the area of Highway 3 and Conquerall Mills Road. All traffic was stopped from entering the area.

The RCMP National Emergency Response Team was able to maintain a constant track of Doucette.

According to police, around 12:30 a.m., the RCMP Air Services spotted a heat signature in the same area the search was being conducted.

At 12:50 a.m., after an extensive search, Doucette was located and arrested without incident.

"Around 12:50 this morning if when they made contact ad arrested Mr. Doucette without incident," said Cpl. Lisa Croteau with the N.S. RCMP.

"As soon as he was arrested he was turned over to two indigenous members of the RCMP and taken to the Cookville Detachment."

Police say Doucette was not injured during the arrest, but he was assessed by EHS for his wellbeing. No weapons were located during the arrest.

Police also say Doucette was still only wearing shorts, with no shoes or shirt. Margaret Bolivar said that news surprised her, because when she spotted him, he was clothed.

"What surprised me is that when he got out of the truck, he had clothes on. That’s where I second guessed myself, but my first intuition was no, this is him, he's gotten clothes from heavens knows where."

Doucette is facing several charges including:

  • attempted murder
  • aggravated assault
  • assault with a weapon
  • assault
  • injuring a law enforcement animal
  • possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (x2)
  • mischief under $5,000
  • theft of a motor vehicle

Doucette has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Justice Centre on Monday.

THE SEARCH FOR DOUCETTE

The Mounties had been focusing their search for Doucette in Conquerall Bank, N.S. where he was believed to be on Tuesday.

He was spotted by an RCMP dog and handler, but police say he escaped into nearby woods after stabbing the dog with a stick.

After going several days without finding any trace of him, police decided to direct their search resources based on the strength of tips received on Doucette's potential whereabouts.

Police responded to two possible sightings of him in Bridgewater, N.S., on Friday.

That evening they set up a perimeter after spotting bare footprints that Bridgewater deputy chief Danny MacPhee said were suspected to be Doucette's, but they didn't find the fugitive.

On Saturday night, police reported another possible sighting -- this time in Lunenburg County. RCMP urged people in the area of Conquerall Mills Road and Highway 3 to stay inside and keep their doors locked.

Shortly after, at 1:18 Sunday morning, RCMP announced in a tweet that Doucette had been arrested without incident.

The investigation is ongoing.