Police have arrested a man, 36, in connection with a serious assault on an employee of a St. John's grocery store.

The employee was slashed several times with a knife when he tried to stop a suspected shoplifter at the Sobey's supermarket on Topsail Road at about 8:25 p.m. on Saturday.

The man faces charges of robbery, assault with a weapon causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, theft under $5000, uttering threats and breach of probation.

The employee was treated at the scene for his injuries.