Toronto's police watchdog has been called in after a youth, allegedly driving a stolen vehicle, struck and seriously injured a police officer in the city's east end early Monday morning.
The suspect, reported to be 12 years old, is now hospitalized with gunshot wounds and faces numerous charges.
Incident Details
Just after 1 a.m., officers responded to a vehicle theft call near Donlands Avenue and O'Connor Drive, close to the Leaside Bridge. Upon arrival, police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled, striking one of the officers in the process. The officer then fired at the fleeing vehicle.
Paramedics took the seriously injured officer to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
The stolen vehicle and driver were later located near Donlands and Mortimer Avenues. The 12-year-old driver was transported to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Charges Laid
The youth faces a slew of charges, including:
- Attempted murder
- Assaulting a peace officer
- Motor vehicle theft
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000
- Dangerous operation
- Failure to stop for police
- Leaving the scene of a collision
Police say one additional suspect remains at large, though no description has been released.
Investigation Underway
The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate and is investigating the incident. Toronto police declined to provide further details, and the SIU has been reached for comment.
This incident comes just days after Const. Marc Pinizzotto was murdered while serving a search warrant in North York. Pinizzotto, a member of the Toronto Police Service emergency task force, was shot by occupants of an apartment suspected in a string of high-profile shootings, including the March 10 attack on the United States Consulate on University Avenue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto police or Crime Stoppers.
