Fair reopens after stabbing in Dartmouth leaves teen with serious injuries

Halifax Regional Police are investigating a stabbing that happened Friday night at a fair in Dartmouth, N.S.

In a news release, police say they were called to the East Coast Amusements fair at 214 Main St. around 7:30 p.m. AT.

Police say an 18-year-old male there was suffering from what they called life-threatening stab wounds.

The teen was taken to hospital.

Later Saturday, a release from police said they had a suspect in custody and it was unknown if charges would be laid. It said the investigation was in its beginning stages.

On Saturday, East Coast Amusements general manager Nathan Smithers said the fair was moving forward despite the incident. 

"Everybody can't let the actions of a few ... wreck it for everybody else," he said. 

The fair closed early on Friday night after the stabbing, but reopened on Saturday afternoon after a one-hour delay.

Smithers said he hopes most people will recognize it was a random event that had nothing to do with the fair itself.

His company has on-site security, he said, and the grounds are patrolled regularly.

"We're gonna make our best efforts to ensure everybody's safety," he said.

Smithers said he's been in contact with police. He said off-duty officers will be in attendance at the event next weekend. 

Meanwhile, families in attendance appeared unfazed by the previous night's events.

"We don't let it [hamper] the joy of coming," said Michael Green, who brought his son to the fair.

Police remained at the fairgrounds Saturday morning but the afternoon media release said they had released the scene.