Shocking video appears to show the moment a suspect vehicle “deliberately” crashed into unmarked police vehicles as carjacking task force officers conducted a takedown in Toronto.
The Toronto Police Service also released additional details on what led up to the incident early Monday, which occurred in The West Mall and Eva Road area.
The suspect vehicle, a stolen SUV, ended up flipping on its side and two suspects were arrested, police said.
Police said Monday that the suspects were taken out of the vehicle and brought to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
One officer was also reported to have suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
Police said Thursday that the takedown was part of an investigation into break-ins where vehicles were stolen.
On Dec. 3 at around 2:25 a.m., police responded to a break-and-enter in the area of Thompson Avenue and Van Dusen Boulevard in the city’s west end, which is near Royal York Road and Bloor Street West.
Suspects had forced their way into a home while the victim was sleeping, stole the victim’s car keys, and fled in the vehicle, police said.
Then on Dec. 13 at around 3 a.m., police said that suspects suspects forced their way into a home in the area of Islington Avenue and Summitcrest Drive, which is just north of Eglinton Avenue West.
The victims were sleeping when they were woken up by several loud bangs at the front door, police said.
They went downstairs where they were confronted by two suspects, who demanded their car keys, officers said.
The suspects then allegedly stole the keys to two vehicles and fled with the two cars.
Around two hours later, in the area of Dixon Road and McArthur Street, just east of Islington Avenue, suspects forced their way into a home while the victims were sleeping, police said.
There was a confrontation with a victim and one of the suspects and the victim suffered minor injuries, police said.
The suspects allegedly stole car keys and fled in a vehicle.
Members of the provincial carjacking task force, which was launched earlier this year to combat auto-related crimes, were then assigned to the case along with 22 Division officers and a suspect was identified.
On Monday morning, members of the task force, the 22 Division major crime unit, and the emergency task force, conducted a takedown in The West Mall and Eva Road area.
Toronto police released video showing part of that takedown and Global News was able to obtain a slightly longer version.
It appears to show unmarked police vehicles attempting to block the suspect vehicle inside of a parking garage.
The suspect vehicle is then seen speeding towards the police cars and smashing into them.
A person, presumably an officer, can be seen running out of the way just before the SUV smashes into the unmarked cars.
Police said the SUV “deliberately” smashed into the police vehicles and then flipped on its side.
The suspects were extracted from the vehicle and arrested, police said.
An 18-year-old and 16-year-old, both from Toronto, are facing a number of charges.
“Both individuals are presently before the courts on other criminal charges,” police noted.
Court documents obtained by Global News said the 18-year-old suspect was forbidden from driving and had a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
He was previously charged with dangerous driving and assault with a weapon, the documents said.
— with files from Global News’ Catherine McDonald