Man charged with first-degree murder in death of Toronto police officer

TORONTO – Police have charged a 44-year-old man with first-degree murder in the death of Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell, who was run over and killed by a stolen snowplow on Wednesday.

Richard Esber Kachkar, of no fixed address, also faces two counts of attempted murder, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair announced Thursday.

The chief said the charges were aided by video footage from Russell’s scout car, and from information provided by "a number" of civilian witnesses who came forward.

"We are grateful for their assistance," said Blair. "I am unable to provide more details on the investigation, the matter is now before the courts."

He said the force and Russell’s family are making funeral arrangements.

Meanwhile, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is continuing its investigation into the firearm injuries sustained by the accused during his arrest.

The SIU investigation to date has determined that officers of the Toronto Police Service’s Emergency Task Force were in pursuit of a stolen snowplow that was wanted in connection with the earlier hit-and-run death of Russell.

During the pursuit, the plow struck a number of occupied and parked vehicles, the SIU said in a release Thursday.

When the plow finally struck an occupied car and collided with a City of Toronto garbage truck, the ETF vehicles boxed it in, the SIU said.

Officers approached the vehicle and made attempts to arrest the driver. During the arrest, attempts were made to subdue him. An officer fired shots from his pistol, striking the driver, who was arrested and transported to hospital by ambulance.

Kachkar, formerly of St. Catharines, Ont., is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital, the SIU said.

The SIU has interviewed nine officers and four civilian witnesses.

The SIU is an arm’s-length agency that investigates reports involving police in which there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

Meantime, Police Chief Bill Blair addressed a class of new recruits Tuesday, graduating just one day after Sgt. Russell’s death.

Blair told the 42 recruits Russell’s death was a tragedy for police and the city, and yet they could still gather for today’s graduation celebration.

The chief told the new officers: "It’s O-K to smile today."