A man charged with trying to murder a Saint John police officer has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

Corey James Clarke was initially charged with attempted murder on Const. Jonathan Grenier.

But the 35-year-old pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated assault on Thursday, according to media reports.

Officers were called to a disturbance at Canadian Tire on Fairville Boulevard on the evening of Feb. 21.

It was reported to police that a man armed with a knife was threatening staff and causing damage inside the store.

Two officers were already inside of the store when Grenier entered and was stabbed by Clarke with a knife.

Those other officers intervened to stop the assault on their colleague and take Clarke into custody.

Grenier was treated in the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released a few days later.

Clarke also pleaded guilty to several other charges, including assaulting another officer and the store manager with a knife.

He is scheduled to return to court for sentencing in December.