A 22-year-old man is facing attempted murder charges after a York Regional Police officer was allegedly assaulted in Richmond Hill.

Police were called to the parking lot of Hillcrest Mall just before 4 p.m. Friday for an unknown reason.

When police arrived they discovered one of their officers on the scene suffering from serious injuries.

Police say the officer was seated inside his cruiser near the Marshalls store when he was approached by the suspect, who began to assault him. The altercation continued outside the vehicle where the suspect managed to grab hold of the officer’s baton and continued to assault him.

The injured officer, a four year member of the force, was transported to hospital in non-life threatening condition.

The suspect was uninjured and was arrested on the scene.

Chidubem Anthony Okeke of no fixed address is facing an attempted murder charge and one charge of failing to comply with recognizance.

Police are asking anyone who may have captured the incident or images of the suspect prior to the attack on video to contact them.