Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 10:05 a.m.

Vancouver police say one officer is recovering from a severely broken leg and a second officer has sprained fingers after subduing an agitated man near the city's entertainment district.

Sgt. Jason Robillard says two patrol officers were in a parked cruiser in the downtown core early Monday when the 44-year-old man approached and allegedly physically confronted them.

In trying to control and arrest the man, one officer's leg was broken so badly that Robillard says the member remains in hospital following emergency surgery to set a bone that pierced the skin.

The second officer was released after being treated for the hand injury.

Robillard says the Crown has approved charges of aggravated assault, assaulting a police officer, assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats against 44-year-old Paul Eddison of Penticton, who returns to court early next month.

Robillard says the department wishes its officers a speedy recovery.

"Our frontline patrol officers deal with challenging situations on a daily basis. They are required to continually get in harm's way to protect the citizens they serve," says Robillard in the release.

ORIGINAL: 8:45 a.m.

Vancouver Police have arrested a Penticton man after two VPD officers were injured during an arrest that turned into a violent confrontation early Monday morning.

One of the officers is still recovering in hospital.
 
Just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 15, two patrol officers were parked on Granville Street near Helmcken Street when they were physically confronted by 44-year-old, Paul Eddison, from Penticton. He was in an agitated state.
 
Eddison was eventually brought under control and arrested, but not before he allegedly caused several physical injuries to the officers. One officer sustained a compound leg fracture and the other sprained several fingers.
 
Crown counsel has approved criminal charges against Edison related to aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, assaulting a police officer, and uttering threats.  
 
The officer with the broken leg required emergency surgery and is recovering in hospital. The second injured officer was treated at hospital and released.
 
“Our frontline patrol officers deal with challenging situations on a daily basis. They are required to continually get in harm’s way to protect the citizens they serve,” says Sgt. Jason Robillard. “We wish our injured officers a speedy recovery.”