Lane Douglas-Hunt was top of her class at the Justice Institute of B.C.
Victoria police Const. Lane Douglas-Hunt was just holding the door to the 7-Eleven store open for a man, when he attacked her with a knife.
Her impeccable physical condition and recent training on defence against edged weapons helped save her life, her mother said.
“Her fitness, her quickness is what saved her,” Mary Douglas-Hunt said from Royal Jubilee Hospital on Tuesday, while waiting for her daughter to come out of surgery on her left hand.
“She had just been through training with (knives) so she did everything textbook. So we’re very happy she’s still with us.”
On Monday morning Lane, 24, was looking into a minor theft from the convenience store in the 800-block of Douglas Street. She normally works with a partner, but special circumstances separated them at the time.
The attacker, known to police, targeted Lane because of her police uniform, VicPD Chief Jamie Graham said later.
In the ensuing scuffle, Lane’s neck and right hand were cut, and severe damage was done to her left hand as she blocked the knife blade from her body.
“It’s very, very frightening,” Mary said. “She went into warrior mode.”
With her attacker pinning her to the ground, Lane had the clarity of mind to yell at nearby pedestrians to stay back, in consideration for their safety, said Sgt. Grant Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Saanich resident Blair Bater, 45, couldn’t help noticing a woman was in need of help as he drove along Douglas Street.
He stopped his car and jumped out, asking Lane whether she needed help. She said yes.
“It was just reaction, I just (saw) somebody that needed my hand,” Bater said.
He lunged at the man, then held him face down on the ground with his knee in the man’s back.
Rob Caunter, who works for the Downtown Victoria Business Association soon joined in, helping to restrain the attacker.
Lane’s hands were so badly damaged she couldn’t operate her handcuffs. She passed them to Bater, who cuffed the man.
Other officers arrived and arrested Guy Herve Seguin, 57. He remains in custody and has been charged with attempted murder.
Bater said Lane’s uniform is not what compelled him to help. “I just saw a lady that needed help.”
Bater’s self-described “generally negative” attitude toward police officers “didn’t become part of that process. If it was anybody getting stabbed, you know – the uniform doesn’t change anything.”
Lane has already indicated to Graham she hopes to return to work soon, although her mother said she’ll have to stay away from her normal training routine of two hours a day, for about eight weeks.
“I’ll tell you, it’s a blessing two citizens came forward to help her and protect her, but that girl pretty much took care of herself,” Mary said.
ecardone@vicnews.com
Promising officer
• Const. Lane Douglas-Hunt, 24, was just 21 when she started with the Victoria Police Department.
• She attended Oak Bay High, but graduated from Lambrick Park secondary school, where she transferred for basketball.
• She played basketball for Capilano College in 2004 before becoming a reserve police officer in Victoria.
• She was top of her class at the Justice Institute of B.C. – the police training academy – in terms of fitness.
• Her parents, Cliff Hunt and Mary Douglas-Hunt, live in Oak Bay.