Ontario’s police watchdog investigating after Toronto officers strike suspect with sock gun

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says it’s looking into what happened after an armed suspect was injured by a sock gun that was used by Toronto police.

Officers were called to the Sherbourne Street and Dundas Street East area before 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday with reports a person was armed with a knife.

Police said the suspect attacked another man and chased him with a knife, and when officers ordered the suspect to stop, the man allegedly “advanced towards officers.” A sock round was shot and it hit the suspect. He was then arrested by officers.

The SIU said the suspect, a 58-year-old man, was taken to hospital with a hand injury.

The weapon used by Toronto police is a shotgun loaded with bean bag rounds instead of bullets. It’s designed to inflict pain without penetrating the body.

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The SIU is an independent enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving police that have resulted in death, serious injury or alleged sexual assault.

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