MISSISSAUGA – Police were searching Wednesday for an armed fugitive who allegedly shot a woman and stole a cruiser west of Toronto, before fleeing in another stolen vehicle.
Peel Regional Police said Michael Cleghorn was wanted for attempted murder in connection with the alleged shooting, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Mississauga.
Cleghorn is also wanted by two other forces in Ontario in connection with an alleged murder and the alleged sexual assault of a child.
“He’s armed and dangerous,” said Heather Cannon, a spokeswoman for the Peel force. “If anybody recognizes him or sees him, he should not be approached.”
Police said officers were called to a residential area in Mississauga on Tuesday afternoon for a dispute involving weapons and found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds.
They allege Cleghorn, 31, fled the scene but was found a short time later and an altercation took place between him and officers. Police said Cleghorn then allegedly fled in a police cruiser.
The cruiser was then found a short distance away and police alleged the suspect had since stolen a second vehicle.
A video obtained by Global News on Wednesday appears to show the moment the suspect stole the police vehicle.
A person, who is believed to be the suspect, can be seen riding a bike in a residential area before a police cruiser pulls up, an officer gets out and begins to chase the accused.
The two go out of camera range before the suspect runs back into camera range ahead of the officer, and appears to get into the police cruiser and speed away.
WATCH: Video appears to show man stealing Peel Police vehicle. Shallima Maharaj reports.
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The Special Investigations Unit, one of the province’s police watchdogs, said a Peel officer shot at the man after the squad car was stolen and Cleghorn may have been hurt.
The unit said it was probing what happened.
Cleghorn is also wanted in Thunder Bay for an alleged murder in 2017 and in Toronto for the alleged sexual assault of a child in 2014.
Thunder Bay Police said he is a suspect in the murder of 21-year-old Edmond Clovis, who died from trauma after an alleged altercation.
Court records show Cleghorn also previously served 90 days in jail for a break-in.
– With files from Ryan Rocca
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