While stopping a man from interfering with a newspaper delivery person this morning, an officer was attacked and sent to hospital.

The off-duty police officer noticed a man interfering with a newspaper delivery person inside police headquarters as she was heading home at three a.m.

The officer, along with two on-duty police cadets, followed the man outside the building.

"The suspect, without warning, turned and attacked the off-duty officer resulting in a struggle," the Winnipeg Police Service says.

It took four personnel to subdue the attacker. The 35-year-old was detained by the two police cadets, a uniformed officer, and a second off-duty officer.

The female officer is in hospital facing a "serious injury."