ABOVE: The SIU is investigating events surrounding downtown shooting. Mark Carcasole reports.
TORONTO – Ontario’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate events surrounding a downtown shooting that occurred early Tuesday evening.
It was just after 6:30 p.m Tuesday when a 28-year-old entered a barber shop just south of Bloor Street on Sherbourne Street. According to Toronto Police Constable Wendy Drummond, he shot and missed a 27-year-old victim. A struggle ensued and the victim suffered a minor leg injury before fleeing into another room. He was followed and the gunman fired again and hit a nearby man.
He fled and got into a vehicle with another man. A nearby police officer stopped the car and arrested the 26-year-old driver. But before the passenger could be arrested, he got into the driver’s seat and fled. He crashed a short distance away.
A chase ensued and police were able to tackle him in the backyard of a nearby home. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is now investigating injuries sustained by the suspect during the takedown.
Mike McCormack, president of the Toronto Police Association defended the police officers in an interview Wednesday and maintained the police officers were forced to use force.
“Our officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force to affect an arrest, a witness stated that the officers were telling the person to stop resisting. The person was resisting arrest and our officers used as little force as necessary to affect an arrest,” McCormack said. “The message here is people should not resist arrest when police officers are trying to affect their duties.”
Police seized a loaded firearm during the arrest.
The two men arrested have not been identified. According to Drummond, they’re facing several charges including attempted murder.
The Special Investigations Unit is brought in to investigate situations involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
– With files from Mark Carcasole
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