A video capturing a Toronto police vehicle accidentally striking a female suspect and an officer during an arrest over the weekend has gone viral on social media. Toronto police confirmed on Monday that they are investigating the incident depicted in the video.
The events unfolded around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday when police responded to reports of a 23-year-old woman wielding knives and causing damage to vehicles in a plaza parking lot near Jane Street and Alliance Avenue, south of Eglinton Avenue W. The woman was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of weapons dangerous and four counts of mischief under. She made a court appearance on Sunday.
In the footage shared by 6ixBuzzTV, the suspect is seen being struck with a conducted energy weapon, causing her to fall to the ground. As several officers rush to the scene, one officer exits a police vehicle. However, the vehicle rolls forward, unintentionally colliding with both the suspect and an arresting officer.
Although the incident caused distress, neither the suspect nor the officer sustained serious injuries, according to police reports.
Steven Summerville, a retired Toronto police staff sergeant, speculated that the officer may have overlooked putting the vehicle in park due to the intense nature of the situation, rather than intentionally causing harm. Summerville emphasized the potential for human error during critical moments.
Stephanie Sayer, a police spokesperson, acknowledged the incident and explained that a conducted energy weapon was deployed to disarm the individual. She clarified that the officer’s vehicle moved forward accidentally during the arrest, leading to the unintended collision.
Toronto paramedics assessed both the suspect and the officer, confirming they were medically cleared. The suspect was taken to the hospital for further evaluation as a precautionary measure.
A separate video of the incident, posted on YouTube by MadLab Press, provides additional angles of the events leading up to the arrest. The footage shows the suspect wielding knives and damaging police vehicles before the encounter with law enforcement.
Notably, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit was not informed about the incident as the injuries sustained by the suspect were not deemed severe. The Toronto Police Association expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred to their members or the suspect during the incident.