A man, James Christopher Rice, 35, of St. Catharines, who allegedly broke into a home during a home invasion ended up in the hospital and now faces several charges.
St. Catharines / Thorold) 1 District (officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) had responded to a report of a violent break and enter on Tasker Street in St. Catharines on Dec. 20. Police arrived and found two men with serious injuries.
Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics took the suspect and the homeowner to different hospitals. The suspect is said to be in serious condition while the homeonwer was treated and released.
Rice has been charged with break and enter and commit assault with a weapon, uttering a threat, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Rice had a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on Dec. 22, from hospital. He was released from custody with a future court date.
Police say there was a violent fight after Rice allegedly broke into the home and brandished a knife towards the homeowner and threatened him. Rice stabbed him multiple times with the blunt portion of the knife. Bystanders in the home helped the homeowner. A violent struggle continued outside the home to disarm the suspect, during which he received serious injuries.
On Dec. 22, 1 District detectives went to the out of region hospital to meet with Rice, where he remains in hospital.
Neither the homeowner, neither anyone in the home, have been charged.
The circumstances of the incident remains under investigation by 1 District detectives. The suspect and victim were known to each other. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009011.
Members of the public who wish to supply information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
